The Gold Coast Suns new recruits all gathered at Metricon Stadium for the first time today

The class of 2020 is officially in session.

THE class of 2020 is officially in session.

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Today at Metricon Stadium all ten of the Gold Coast Suns draftees and new recruits gathered to usher in a new era at the club which has long been the league’s kicking bag.

They’ve come from South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia, the Northern Territory and even Ireland with the shared goal of transforming the club into one Gold Coasters can be proud of.

The Gold Coast Suns 2019 new recruits and draftees. (back l-r), Patrick Murtagh, Matt Conroy, Jy Farrar, Jeremy Sharp, Noah Anderson. (front l-r) Connor Budarick, Luke Towey, Sam Flanders, Malcolm Rosas Jnr, and Matthew Rowell. Picture: Jerad Williams

And they’re all determined to repay the faith the Suns have shown in them.

Jeremy Sharp unintentionally became one of the big talking points of the 2019 draft when the Suns traded their 2020 round one compensation pick, currently pick 11, to Geelong so they could swoop on the 18-year-old.

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“It’s pretty cool knowing how much faith they had in me already,” the Western Australian said.

“A few minutes earlier, I thought I was going to Geelong but with that last little pick swap, I said to my family ‘this might be me’ because the Gold Coast had shown a lot of interest.

“Since they showed a lot of faith in me, I’m going to repay it now and show even though I was a really big trade that I am worth it.”

The Gold Coast Suns 2019 new recruits and draftees. Jeremy Sharp. Picture: Jerad Williams

Becoming a Sun gives Sharp the chance to make even more memories at Metricon Stadium.

In 2017, he was part of the Black Swans memorable after the siren win at Carrara while playing for the Under 16’s state side.

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“We were lucky enough to beat Victoria Country there,” Sharp recalled.

“Big Rhai Arn Cox took a mark and kicked a goal on the siren so that was super surreal and hopefully a few more of those (memories) will come.”

For number two draft pick and ‘former’ Richmond supporter Noah Anderson, the chance to play alongside a premiership hero has him pinching himself.

The Gold Coast Suns 2019 new recruits and draftees. Noah Anderson. Picture: Jerad Williams

“I could name the whole list,” Anderson said when asked who he is looking forward to playing alongside.

“We’ve got such a young and exciting list.

“I was a Richmond fan growing up so Brandon Ellis coming across is pretty exciting.”

Matthew Rowell wrote his name into the history books when he became the Suns second number one draft pick.

The Gold Coast Suns 2019 new recruits and draftees. Matthew Rowell. Picture: Jerad Williams

But simply landing a spot on an AFL list isn’t enough for the 18-year-old who hopes to make an impact in his first year.

“My next goal is having a really strong pre-season and getting a solid body of work under my belt so I can really attack the season,” he said.

“I want to have a good pre-season and hopefully put my name forward as a round one contender.”

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While people continue to count the names they’ve lost, those same people should be frightened by the ones they’ve gained.

The cavalry has officially arrived.