Connor Budarick opens up about the prospect of becoming first academy player taken by Gold Coast with AFL’s assistance
Connor Budarick is excited to be the face of the Gold Coast revival package as he prepares to become part of what he believes is a strong build for the struggling club.
AFL
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CONNOR Budarick is excited to be the face of the Gold Coast revival package as he prepares to become part of what he believes is a strong build for the struggling club.
Budarick is the top Suns academy talent set to enter this year’s national draft in what has become a stake in the ground moment for the club and AFL who have granted Gold Coast incredible priority picks and academy access in a bid to turn them around.
Part of the package means Gold Coast can pre-sign academy talent without bidding and with Budarick considered by AFL insiders as a second-round pick, Gold Coast would likely get him for unders given they hold picks 55, 75 and 87 going into the draft.
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The number means nothing to the under-18 All-Australian who can’t wait to join the Suns.
“I’d love to be at the Suns. It’s where I have grown up mostly and I think the Suns have had a fresh start,” Budarick said.
“It hasn’t been the best last couple of years but I think it would be exciting to be part of something and get a lot better in the coming years.
“I the list is building. They have the talent they need. It comes back to having a good list and trying to get a few more boys to extend their contracts or sign new deals.
“They need to try and keep as many players as we can and really build something because we have the talent.”
The midfielder, who can also play off halfback, said he planned to be at his home at Runaway Bay on the Gold Coast draft nights, to be held on November 27 and 28, with friends and family.
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Budarick also gave a good insight into two likely future teammates in Noah Anderson and Matt Rowell, tipped to be taken by the Suns with pick 1 and 2, who the Gold Coaster had played with at the AFL national academy and against during the national championships.
“It’s interesting because I played a couple of games with them over the last couple of years and their standards are a step above everyone else,” Budarick said.
“They are pure footy players and playing against them as well, they are the standard you want to be at.
“Sometimes you sit back and watch when they are playing against them watch how good they are.”
Budarick met with Suns officials on Wednesday as part of the national combine as well as Essendon and Fremantle who are part of a group of clubs who have shown interest in the good ball user.
It comes after a strong block of training over the past month for Budarick and the other Suns academy players ahead of the combine testing.
“Four or five weeks ago we started to get into some brutal training,” Budarick said.
“We were doing it five times a week with the Suns. It was tough but also enjoyable. It brought the group closer together and you find a bit more about yourself and how much you can test yourself to your limits.”
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