Age: 28
AFL Games: 200
Position: Ruckman

Mansfield/Murray Bushrangers/Collingwood

Former Collingwood ruckman Josh Fraser joins the Gold Coast SUNS at an interesting time. With Darren Jolly quickly establishing himself as first choice ruckman at the one-ruck Magpies since crossing from the Swans, 200 gamer Fraser found himself o the outer and often languishing in the VFL.

But with eleven years of AFL experience, plenty of quality football left to play and now a point to prove, the change of scene offered by the GC SUNS could be just the tonic to reinvigorate the 202cm ruckman’s career.

Hailing from Mansfield in rural Victoria, Collingwood took Fraser with its much-publicised first pick in the star-studded 1999 draft. An AFL Rising Star nominee in his first senior season, Fraser’s early years in the game were hallmarked by an ability to combine mobile ruckwork with a pinch-hitting role as a goal-kicking forward, one that saw him average more than a goal a game over the course of his first three seasons.

His best season was 2006, one that saw him finish third in the Magpies’ Best and Fairest, equal with Heath Shaw and just a few votes short of eventual winner Alan Didak. As a hugely experienced footballer, Fraser will be looked upon as a leader and mentor for the GC SUNS’ young playing group.

And with GC SUNS ruck stocks still very much developing, Fraser’s role as a mature and seasoned ‘tall’ at his new club will be crucial.