Josh Schoenfeld says Suns working hard to convince top draft prospect Bailey Scott Gold Coast are worth playing for
SUNS midfielder Josh Schoenfeld says the team is working hard behind the scenes to convince the club’s best draft prospect Gold Coast are worth playing for.
AFL
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SUNS midfielder Josh Schoenfeld says the team is working hard behind the scenes to convince the club’s best draft prospect Gold Coast are worth playing for.
Gold Coast academy player Bailey Scott has an enormous decision to make in the coming months.
Scott, the son of former North Melbourne and Geelong player Robert, is being chased by all three clubs he is linked to and will have the luxury of deciding which one he wants to begin his AFL career at.
The 18-year-old collected 20 possessions in Gold Coast’s 20.9 (129) to 9.5 (59) loss to GWS in Round 19 of the NEAFL at Metricon Stadium on Saturday.
It was Scott’s third NEAFL game after spending most of the year playing for the Suns academy or with the Allies team in the under-18 national championships.
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Schoenfeld said Scott was as good any of the Suns academy players he had seen come through, including Jack Bowes who has become a regular in Gold Coast’s best 22 since being drafted in 2016.
The winger said the team was doing everything it could to help Scott feel at home at the club.
“He is really good,” Schoenfeld said.
“He is very confident for his age and he is a natural leader. He has great attributes with his running and skill base.
“Hopefully he picks us and we can get him at the end of this year.
“We have to make sure those academy boys feel included in the team. We give him a licence to play his game and encourage him to do his best.
“He is definitely up there with Bowes and a few other boys to have come through. He plays more outside at this stage but he has some pace and his run is very good.”
Gold Coast’s 70-point loss to the Giants has all but dashed their hopes of a spot in the NEAFL finals completely.
The Suns took five AFL listed players into the game and trailed from the outset.
The win puts GWS into equal sixth on the ladder and while the Suns mathematically can still make the finals, it will be a mammoth effort considering they have a lower winning percentage and play Brisbane and Sydney in the final two weeks of the regular round.
“We are still a chance but it’s going to be very hard,” Schoenfeld said.
“We need to win the last two games and rely on a few teams losing so it’s a kick in the guts but either way we are going to fight to the end.”
Schoenfeld produced his best NEAFL performance of his three-year career at the Suns, gathering 41 possessions.
“I didn’t realise I had that many touches but I was just working hard for the team and trying to do my best to get us over the line,” Schoenfeld said.
“It was probably my best game in the NEAFL so it’s good I can consistently have a good impact in the reserves.
“It’s shown my development over the year and I think I have taken a big step forward.”
Meanwhile, Southport remain on the cusp of finishing the regular on the top of the ladder or out of finals contention following a 11.13 (79) to 8.8 (56) loss to Aspley on Saturday.
The Sharks hold first on percentage but five of the top six are all on equal points while Brisbane are six points behind going into the final two rounds.
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