Former Suns academy player signs with VFL club Coburg

FORMER Suns academy player Harry Simington has signed with VFL club Coburg after being overlooked for the national draft as he searches for the exposure and form that will get him to the AFL.

FORMER Suns academy player Harry Simington has signed with VFL club Coburg after being overlooked for the national draft as he searches for the exposure and form that will get him to the AFL.

Simington has joined fellow Gold Coaster Brodie Foster and former Palm Beach Currumbin QAFL coach Chad Owens at the Lions after declining offers from NEAFL club Southport Sharks and VFL club Frankston.

The 19-year-old former Coomera junior battled untimely injuries in the lead up to last year’s draft.

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Simington hurt his hamstring in 2017 before suffering from a stress reaction in his foot during the preseason leading up to the 2018 season.

He returned in Round 13 of the NEAFL and played four games before suffering the same foot injury after a breakout game where he earned the NEAFL Rising Star award.

Too old to continue in Gold Coast’s academy, the forward said he needed a fresh start.

“There was a lot to weigh up but I believe the VFL will give me the chance to develop my game the most,” Simington said.

Former Gold Coast Suns academy player Harry Simington has signed with VFL club Coburg.

“I chatted to a few coaches and my manager about the exposure VFL gets and the chances of going to the AFL.

“It didn’t happen for me last year and after a couple of years of injuries I thought I’d try for a fresh start. Coburg felt like the best fit.

“Having Brodie and Chad there made a difference and it’s a young team.”

Simington said he was frustrated by the timing of his injuries but believed he had time to progress on to an AFL list as clubs increasingly look to mature-age talent.

“The reason I didn’t get picked up wasn’t the injuries but it makes it hard when you have limited game time to show what you can do,” Simington said.

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“Clubs are looking for consistency and I need a couple of really strong seasons under my belt to do that.

“I’m looking to the future now and my foot is going really good.

“If you look at American sports they draft a lot later than what the AFL does and they are starting to follow suit a bit more now.

“I’m still young and most of our team at Coburg is under the age of 22 so for recruiters looking for the future hopefully the games we play have an interest for them.”