Gold Coast Suns sign Malcolm Rosas Jnr from Northern Territory Darwin academy zone
The Gold Coast Sun have dipped into their new Northern Territory academy zone for the first time, signing an exciting small forward on a two-year deal.
AFL
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SMALL forward Malcolm Rosas Jnr has become the first player signed by Gold Coast from its new Northern Territory academy zone.
The 18-year-old player from Darwin will go from playing NEAFL for the now defunct Northern Territory Thunder in 2019 to playing on an AFL list with the Suns in 2020.
“I’ve worked hard, especially over the last couple of years, to improve my game and now I’m on an AFL list, it’s a dream come true,” Rosas Jnr said.
“Many people in the Northern Territory have put a lot of time and effort into getting me to this position and I can’t thank them enough.
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“It’s going to be a big step up to playing AFL football for the Suns, but I’m looking forward to putting my head down and working hard to make the NT proud.”
Suns football manager Jon Haines said he was looking forward to what Rosas Jnr could bring to the club.
“He’s an exciting young talent who has performed at a high level over the last couple of years, across a number of different football programs” Haines said.
“It’s a credit to Malcolm and his family what he has been able to achieve in the past couple of years and we look forward to welcoming them to the football club.”
AFLNT CEO Stuart Totham said it was a good day for Territory footy.
“Mally is a popular young man; he’s electric and talented on field but a gentleman off it; that combination will stand him in good stead and will do us all proud. There will be a lot of people who are ecstatic about today’s news and that’s warranted.
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“We are pleased the Gold Coast Suns partnership is already bearing fruit and we know there are more players in this year’s group and beyond who are worthy of the opportunity, so we look forward to working with them to uncover the next Mally,” he said.
The small forward impressed during recent NAB AFL Draft Combine when he finished third overall in the 20m sprint (running 2.92 seconds) and recorded a solid time of 6:33 minutes in the 2km time trial.
Rosas becomes the first player drafted to the club since the AFL recently announced that the Darwin region would form part of the club’s Academy program.
As part of the AFL’s assistance package the club was awarded the opportunity to pre-sign players from its academy region (including Darwin) before the draft without having to bid for them.
Malcolm Rosas Jnr Bio:
DOB: 27/06/2001
Born: Darwin, NT
Local club: Darwin Buffaloes in the NTFL
Senior Men’s games: 29
NT Thunder senior games: 8
NT Thunder debut: Round 19 of the 2018 NEAFL season – NT Thunder vs Redland
Representative honours:
NT Kickstart team – 2016
NT School Sport Australia Under 15s – 2016
Rio Tinto Flying Boomerangs – 2016
NT Thunder Under 16s – 2017 and 2018
NT Thunder Under 18s – 2018 and 2019
NAB AFL All Stars ‘Futures’ match – 2018
AFL Allies Hub – 2019
AFL National Academy and Australian Under 18s – 2019
Allies team for NAB AFL Under 18 National Division 1 Championship – 2019
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