Gold Coast SUNS List and Strategy Manager, Scott Clayton, has expressed his excitement at securing the services of experienced West Coast midfielder Matt Rosa during this year’s trade period.
Not only does the 168-game veteran fulfil the SUNS' desire to recruit a specialist wingman, but given the lack of experience and the youthful age profile of Gold Coast’s list, Rosa ticks a number of boxes.
The SUNS brokered a deal with West Coast on the penultimate day of the exchange period, sending pick No. 31 across the country to shuffle the 28-year-old from one coast to another.
“(We’re) really excited, the coach is really excited about him. He fulfilled the job description we had (in terms of) specific position - as in wing,” Clayton told SUNS TV on Thursday afternoon.
“His direction, his leadership, his maturity and his games (was the attraction to Rosa).
“He’s really keen to come and to get him to agree to relocate from Western Australia and from a team that played in the Grand Final, and which he had a significant impact in their season, is a real positive for us.”
Rosa played 17 games in 2015 to be a regular member of an Eagles outfit that stunned the football landscape by reaching the Grand Final.
But with West Coast batting deep in the engine room, and acquiring Lewis Jetta and Jack Redden during the trade period, Rosa elected to pursue a fresh start after more than a decade in Perth.
The SUNS’ other acquisition – North Melbourne’s Daniel Currie - is a direct replacement for Zac Smith who was traded to Geelong during the trade period.
Clayton labelled the opportunity-starved Currie as the best ruckman outside the AFL and suggested that given his age and maturity, he is ready to play senior football.
“Clearly after Zac Smith was chasing opportunity – he said quite clearly that he wanted to be the No. 1 man and that’s couldn’t be guaranteed at our club – Dan wants to come in and compete with Tom (Nicholls) and (Keegan) Brooksby and others. So we were quite pleased,” Clayton quipped.
“His form this year in the VFL was quite outstanding really. He’s certainly the best ruckman in Australia outside the AFL comp I would say.
“He’s 27, mature, and ready to have a go. He’s very competitive and forthright, so we’re pleased with him.”
The outstanding form of All Australian ruckman Todd Goldstein prevented Currie from earning more exposure during his time at Arden Street. Despite a lack of opportunity, Currie was dominant in the VFL, finishing inside the top ten in the JJ Liston Medal – just four votes behind the winner, Nick Rippon.
