Despite boasting a playing list brimming with young stars, Gold Coast SUNS List & Strategy Manager Scott Clayton is aiming to build a dynasty at Metricon Stadium via the draft table.
Ahead of Thursday night’s national draft, Clayton revealed the SUNS would be targeting elite players to help the club achieve a sustained period of success.
Gold Coast has built the majority of its talented, young list via the draft, with Kade Kolodjashnij (pick 5) and Sean Lemmens (pick 27) in 2013 two of the most recent drafting triumphs.
“We’re at the stage now where we want to chase elite players; we want to be really, really good. We’re here to win a dynasty of premierships, not just piece meals. Our whole philosophy is to get elite players,” Clayton told SUNS TV.
“We think there’s a great mix here from our three picks, eight, 15 and 29, that we can deliver different players across the board and we’re in meetings with the coach right now filling him in on who they may be.
“I can guarantee that our supporters will be very excited with what we bring in.”
Clayton explained SUNS senior coach Rodney Eade would be involved in the decision making process, although only after the recruiting team had culled their list down to ten potential draftees.
“We obviously communicate and we know from a list management perspective what we’re trying to achieve and that’s a whole of club thing and that comes down to the type of player and what we want to stand for as a club. We're really bonded and tight on that,” Clayton said.
“We’ll cut to the chase with Rodney Eade and show him that we can get those three picks, even though our last is at 29.
“We’ll probably get that in to ten players that we can go it will be three of these. We’ll get his feedback and opinions, that’s an exciting part of the process.”