Amazingly, 17 of the club’s 46 players will break into the traditionally celebrated age group, and with seven players still yet to reach the mark, the GC SUNS will enter their 2013 campaign boasting a team where more than half the list will still be 21 years old or under.
Steven May, who celebrated his 21st birthday earlier this month, leads the long list of GC SUNS players set to reach the personal milestone, a list that also includes the likes of rising stars Dion Prestia, Brandon Matera, Tom Lynch as well as ball magnets David Swallow and Harley Bennell.
Although the club has been busy in the off-season recruiting experienced former Hawk Tom Murphy and Fremantle defender Greg Broughton (as well as having elevated mature aged rookie Kyal Horsley), the GC SUNS still rely heavily on its original young crop of talent taking their game to the next level.
With GC SUNS Chairman – John Witheriff launching the club’s new strategic vision 20-ONE-3 last November, May told goldcoastfc.com.au that the playing group could no longer afford to be critiqued any differently to other AFL rivals, declaring the boys were well-prepared to be perceived as men this season.
“The first two years I think everyone expected there would be growing pains, as boys had to learn how to conduct themselves as professionals on and off the field.”
“Although most of us are still only in our early 20s, we’ve all had to fast-track our development and take a more mature approach to our football… many of our current senior players are now in the backend of their careers and won’t be around to guide us forever.”
“Bluey [McKenna] said at the start of pre-season that we shouldn’t to use the word “young” anymore [around the club], wanting the players to be more accountable and relish on the new found professionalism at the club.”
GC SUNS 21st in 2013
January
10th – Steven May
24th – Luke Russell
February
5th – Matt Shaw
13th – Mav Weller
20th – Jack Hutchins
March
4th – Tom Nicholls
11th – Brandon Matera
April
3rd – Trent McKenzie
June
2nd – Daniel Gorringe
17th – Jeremy Taylor
August
6th - Seb Tape
September
6th – Sam Day
13th – Jacob Gillbee
October
2nd – Harley Bennell
12th – Dion Prestia
31st – Tom Lynch
November
19th – David Swallow
