South Australian draftee Jez McLennan reveals desperation to join Gold Coast Suns

SUNS draftee Jez McLennan is already bucking club trends after revealing his desperation to join Gold Coast at last week’s AFL Draft.

SUNS draftee Jez McLennan is already bucking club trends after revealing his desperation to join Gold Coast at last week’s AFL Draft.

As the Suns fight to stop a player exodus that has included gun interstate recruits Tom Lynch, Steven May, Dion Prestia and Jaeger O’Meara in recent years, South Australia product McLennan has emerged as a crucial figure in the club’s revival.

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Taken with pick 23 in the draft, the 18-year-old defender was one of four interstate players taken by the Suns, joining fellow South Australian’s Izak Rankine and Jack Lukosius and Melbourne’s Ben King.

However, McLennan said the Coast had long been his home away from home.

Jez McLennan (far right) with fellow Suns draftees Caleb Graham, Ben King, Izak Rankine and Jack Lukosius. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

“I’ve been wanting to go to Gold Coast all this year, I’ve already got family up here and it sort of seems like a second home,” McLennan, who was the first person ever to be collected on the second day of an AFL draft, said.

“I’ve got all my dad’s side up here so we get up here every Christmas and have a bit of a holiday but now it’s home so it’s really good. I don’t really know the club too much because Gold Coast don’t really get televised in Adelaide so this is all really new to me but it’s good to be here.

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“Me, Jack and Izak have known each other for about three years now so we’ve become really close and that is only going to get stronger. We flew up together and we’re really keen to get into things together.

McLennan at home in the Barossa Valley. Picture: AAP Image/Dean Martin

“Just seeing the facilities (at the Suns) it just keeps getting better and better so I’m really stoked to be here.”

McLennan said he hoped to fill some of the void left in the Suns backline by May’s departure.

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“I see myself as a bit of a running halfback. I’m not an interceptor – I don’t have the height for it – so at the moment (I’m) a bit of a ground level, rebounding defender. Hopefully I can slot into the team and be one of those players.”