TOP Draft prospect James Aish was recently given a rare insight into the inner sanctum of the Gold Coast SUNS, spending a week training with the senior squad as part of the AIS-AFL Academy and the elite teenager couldn’t have asked for a better tutor – Captain Gary Ablett.

“It was an exciting week, I got to come here through the AIS as all the Level 2 boys got to spend a week with an AFL club,” Aish exclusively told goldcoastfc.com.au.

“Really happy to have been up here and I’ve learned a lot.”

The exciting 17-year-old, who bunked in with Ablett during his eight-day stay on the Gold Coast, said the opportunity to live with the code’s best player had been an experience he would cherish for the rest of his football career.

“It was amazing; to see how he lives and trains, I’ve learned a lot of stuff about football but also just him as a person,” he said.

“I’ve certainly taken a lot out of it all.”

Joined by fellow South Australian Dwayne Wilson, the dynamic duo were given a specialised training program by the club’s High Performance team - designed to show them the daily work-outs and training regimes the players undertake on a Round-by-Round basis.   

“The week has given me a better understanding of the preparation, backing up training is a full on business as well as just keeping back up everyday,” Aish said.

“The long hours and how to prepare for it all and get your mind going is a challenge.”

“It’s been a great insight just the professional nature of the club, and what it’ll take to make it as well.”