Gold Coast defender Greg Broughton has conceded he was surprised to have had the chance to reach AFL game No. 100.

Despite finishing third in Fremantle’s Best and Fairest count in 2011, Broughton was put up for trade at the end of the next season and the GC SUNS quickly swooped on a player who has 68 games worth of AFL experience to bolster the club’s developing back six.

The 27-year-old hasn’t looked back since making the move east, although the thought of reaching the triple-figure milestone hadn’t crossed his mind when he came to the club.

“When I first arrived here I never really thought I’d be getting to the 100,” Broughton told the Gold Coast Bulletin.

“I am so grateful to the Gold Coast SUNS for the chance they gave me to keep playing AFL.”

GC SUNS assistant coach Dean Solomon played his final season in the AFL with the Dockers when Broughton made his debut with the Purple Haze back in 2009.

He was instrumental in pushing for the club to sign the West Australian who has been one of the club’s quiet achievers over the past year-and-a-half.

“He is a ripper bloke and has obviously been a fantastic pick-up for us,” Solomon said.

“I’m unsure what went on that led Greg to be put up for trade, but I do know that when his name popped up, I was quickly asked about him by the hierarchy at the SUNS.

“He is the ultimate team man; he’s fearless and he’s selfless. They are two words that probably best sum up Broughto.

“You ask any of our players. They love playing with him because he gives himself to the team first, and that’s the great thing about him.”