After 12 games across three seasons, a Gold Coast defender is keen to make an impact in 2024

He spent almost three years on the sidelines watching his team battle it out every weekend trying to make September. Now after two knee reconstructions, a full pre-season, the Suns young defender will lace up for the opening round against the Tigers.

A young Gold Coast Suns defender will return to senior side after spending almost three years on the sidelines with injuries.

Connor Budarick has done everything right this pre-season as he pushes for selection in the opening round clash against Richmond on Saturday.

It is the first time since the 2021 season where Budarick has been able to complete a full pre-season with the young defender eager to get back out there.

“Its really refreshing and I think I have to pump myself up to be able to (do a full pre-season),” Budarick said.

“You know it's the standard for a lot of people to be able to complete a pre-season.

“But considering I missed out on the last few, I have to give myself a pat on the back to get through it and without niggles as well.

“I was able to get through the whole thing and that gives me a lot of confidence in my body and myself to go into the season firing.”

Gold Coast Suns player Connor Budarick has over come two ACL’s over the past three seasons as he prepares for a breakout seaosn in 2024. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

Budarick ruptured his first ACL in round two against North Melbourne in 2021 before returning in 2022, adding just nine games to his name before rupturing the same knee in the loss to Collingwood in round 16.

After spending two years getting his body right, Budarick finished off the 2023 season back in the senior side

“It would be a very exciting moment for myself (to play opening round),” Budarick said.

“You know I played a couple games towards the back end of (last) year, almost when you could say the season was done.

“But for myself then it was very exciting to get out and get two (games) on the board which could then give me momentum heading into pre-season.

“Then into the start of this season, I am very excited to get the chance to run out on the weekend.

“It would be almost a sense of a brand new season and a brand new player, feel like a first-year player almost.”

Despite the long road back into the side, Budarick never reached out to anyone for inspiration to get back.

Instead, he had a bittersweet moment in rehab when he wasn’t going through the injury alone.

“I had boys do the same injury around the same time I did my first (ACL), so I had a few boys to do the rehab with,” Budarick said.

“Which it kind of inspired me to keep going.

“Then the second one, I had Ben King and Lachie Weller to do rehab with.

“I did my own research as well, Christian Petracca did an ACL early in his career and look at him now, so did Max Gawn.

“I never reached out to anyone to gather inspiration, so I just had to try and build that from within.”

The Suns will take on the Tigers in the Opening Round at Heritage Bank Stadium in front of a sell out crowd on Saturday.