Ex-Central District defender Jez McLennan granted his wish after Gold Coast pick him at AFL national draft

Central District youngster Jez McLennan joins fellow South Australians Jack Lukosius and Izak Rankine at Gold Coast Suns.

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Jez McLennan is stoked to be part of the group of SA footballers heading to the Gold Coast after the Suns selected him with pick No. 23 at the national AFL draft on Friday.

The former Central District medium defender joins Woodville-West Torrens forward Jack Lukosius and West Adelaide midfielder Izak Rankine – snagged by Gold Coast with picks two and three respectively.

McLennan watched the draft at home with father Warren, mother Rachel and extended family members.

He also had relatives living at Gold Coast’s Mermaid Beach and said being drafted to the Suns was a dream come true.

Jez McLennan pictured working on his surfboard in the in the Barossa Valley before Gold Coast selected him at the 2018 national AFL draft. Picture: AAP/Dean Martin

“I’m over the moon,” McLennan, 18, said.

“I’ve been wanting to get to the Gold Coast for a while now. I’ve got a lot of family over there – on Dad’s side – so I’m stoked to be on-board.

“It was quite emotional.

“It was heading down the order and I was getting really, really nervous and I couldn’t sleep much at all.

“I didn’t expect to be the very first pick (on day two). It all happened quickly and it still hasn’t really sunk in.”

SA has become a major hunting ground for the Suns, who picked up ex-Central utility Nick Holman in the 2017 rookie draft and selected Chris Burgess from West Adelaide as a mature-age recruit this year.

Former Sturt midfielder Charlie Ballard was snared by the Suns at last year’s national draft, while senior coach Stuart Dew and assistant Josh Francou also come from Adelaide.

“I know Jack (Lukosius) and Izak (Rankine) really well and Stuart Dew is a former Central boy and he seems like a really good guy,” McLennan said.

“I can’t wait to get into it.”

McLennan played five league and nine reserves matches with Central last season.

He was also named in the All-Australian team after helping SA win the underage national championship for the first time in four years.

Also a keen surfer, he had a welcoming phone call from Dew as well as text messages from new teammates Lachie Weller and Holman: “Lachie knows I am surfer, and he is as well,

“Stewy (Dew) said he was happy to have me on board and to soak up the moment with the family.”