Gold Coast Suns young gun Joel Jeffrey enjoying life in the AFL system

TERRITORIAN and former Wanderers star Joel Jeffrey is finding his groove with the Gold Coast Suns and is hoping his recent run of VFL form will see him soon get his first game at the top level

Joel Jeffrey is enjoying life at the Gold Coast Suns and is hoping to soon play his first AFL game. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

TERRITORIAN and former Wanderers star Joel Jeffrey is finding his groove with the Gold Coast Suns and is hoping his recent run of VFL form will see him soon get his first game at the top level.

Jeffrey was drafted to the Suns in December last year and has since been doing whatever he can to ensure he gets his chance to make his AFL debut.

And although the young gun admits he started the VFL season a little slow he has come into his own in recent weeks under the guidance of coaches such as Rhyce Shaw and Tim Clarke.

MORE NT SPORT STORIES

Malcolm Rosas Jr rewarded for VFL form with Gold Coast Suns AFL debut

Former NTFL Darwin Buffaloes star Mal Rosas and former Wanderers forward Joel Jeffrey edging closer to AFL debuts for Gold Coast Suns

Former Wanderers Eagles star Joel Jeffrey embracing a gruelling AFL Gold Coast Suns pre-season block

His best game of the season came against Brisbane where he kicked three goals, made 18 possessions and acquired nine marks.

And after kicking another goal in a losing effort against Geelong, the 19-year-old believes he is drawing ever closer to his dream of an AFL debut.

“From the moment I walked through the doors at Suns it’s been great. Great bunch of guys and great leadership around the club,” Jeffrey told the Sunday Territorian.

“Being an Indigenous boy I have a few Indigenous mentors here like Sean Lemmens and Jarrod Harbrow who have been a massive help.

“I started off pretty slow in the VFL, not quite getting into the game. But over the past few weeks I’ve worked hard on developing and improving my game which has shown on the field.

“The main improvements have been in my work rate; getting up and down the ground, beating my opponent and showing what I can do with the footy.

“I’m just doing what I can being consistent and bringing that positive mindset each week which is all for that goal of hopefully playing my first game of AFL this year.”

Jeffrey will join the Suns on their venture to the Top End which will be just their second ever home game at TIO Stadium in the Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous Round.

The young gun is eager to return to his old playing grounds and is looking forward to seeing his family and the Darwin public get around the Suns for the encounter against Hawthorn. “It will be a great feeling coming back up to Darwin. I have a lot of family up there and they’re excited to get around the boys,” Jeffrey said.

“The Indigenous Round means a lot to us boys, we just want to get out there and show what we Indigenous boys can do bringing excitement and flash to the game.

“I’ll do what I can to help young Indigenous and non-Indigenous boys back home get on the right path and hopefully they can one day achieve their dreams of playing AFL footy.”