Gold Coast Suns re-sign four young players ahead of final two rounds of the AFL season
Injury ended his likely AFL debut this season but Jez McLennan and three of his teammates will have another few years to make an impact on the league after inking contract extensions.
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INJURY ended his likely AFL debut this season but Jez McLennan and three of his teammates will have another few years to make an impact on the league after inking contract extensions.
McLennan, Will Brodie, 20, Darcy Macpherson, 21, and Caleb Graham, 18, have all signed until the end of 2022, becoming part of a group of 14 players to recommit to the Suns this year.
All weren’t due to come off contract until the end of next year but are now locked in for the long-term.
McLennan, 18, revealed Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew had indicated he was a good chance at making his senior debut in the last two rounds of the 2019 before having it year ended by a foot injury.
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The South Australian damaged the ligaments in his left foot when he landed on teammate Lachie Weller after a marking contest last Thursday. He will undergo surgery this Thursday.
The defender expected to be back running in a month and while the injury was a disappointing end to a season spent finding his feet and learning Gold Coast’s game style.
“I’m stoked to get the chance to stay with the club,” McLennan said after signing his new deal on Tuesday night.
“It just gives me assurance that I’m at the club for another three years and I can really knuckle down and feel comfortable at this place.
“I can really get to work in the next three years. This season has been a huge learning curve for me.
“The whole year I have been working closely with the defensive coaches and every day I’m learning something new.
“I feel towards the end of the season I have really taken a bigger step, getting closer to selection and it’s just given me great confidence going into next season that I know what it takes.”
Jack Martin is the highest profile Sun yet to recommit and has been linked with moves to Victoria but Gold Coast look to have begun fixing its retention problem by locking in many of its core group of top players and emerging talent.
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They have now signed co-captains David Swallow and Jarrod Witts, Touk Miller, Alex Sexton, Rory Thompson, Peter Wright, Ben Ainsworth, Jack Bowes, Sam Day and Izak Rankine.
“There is huge belief in this football club,” Darcy Macpherson said.
“All the boys signing on see that as well. It’s going to create great opportunity down the track with continuity with a good core group of players building here at the Suns and it’s going to lead to success.”
Graham added: “We are growing something really good here. Everyone is on board. Everyone wants to be here and I think what we are building towards is really special.”
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