During the JLT Community Series, three of Gold Coast’s four top 10 draftees from last year pushed their cases for a round one berth.
However on the sidelines, No. 7 pick Jack Scrimshaw has frustratingly bided his time on the road to recovery from an injured hip flexor.
This Saturday at Metricon Stadium, with his family in attendance on the back of a two-year contract extension on Friday, the 18-year-old will pull on the SUNS guernsey for the first time in a NEAFL practice match as he takes the first steps of what is hoped to be a long and successful career on the Gold Coast.
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“I’m very excited. Obviously I haven’t played in a while so it’ll take a bit to get my confidence going,” Scrimshaw told goldcoastfc.com.au.
“The physios and the doctors have done a great job in preparing me and I’m ready to go.”
Scrimshaw made his name in the Under 18s TAC Cup competition as a top-end intercepting/rebounding defender and harbours dreams of eventually developing into an elite AFL midfielder.
But at the moment, his focus is on building his light frame and the Sandringham Dragons product will look to impress SUNS coaching staff in a traditional attacking role off half back to push his case for a senior opportunity at some point this season.
“There’s a bit of developing to go with my body. I’ve obviously got to get a bit stronger which I think I have over this pre-season so just continuing to grow, get that tank going which hopefully will lead to a senior berth,” Scrimshaw said.
“For now I’m just playing half back, probably as a high back, attacking sort of player so that’s probably the main thing.
“Hopefully I’ll get a go in a different position but we’ll have to wait and see.”
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After spending his first three months at the club training out of demountables and a tin-shed gym, Scrimshaw believes the club’s new state of the art training & administration base will provide the catalyst to success in the future.
With the SUNS heavily invested in the Victorian’s development, he couldn’t hide his excitement at locking down his future alongside good friends Ben Ainsworth, Will Brodie and Jack Bowes until at least the end of 2020.
“It’s fantastic. These guys are great. They’ve helped a lot with my development over the last six weeks or so,” he said.
“I’m just really happy to jump on board with those boys and hopefully drive this club into a great direction.
“Obviously moving into the new facility, I guess that’s the key to our success and it’s great to be on board and I’m really excited as to what the club’s going to bring over the next few years.”
