Joel Jeffrey is set to make his AFL debut for the Gold Coast Suns against the Melbourne Demons
Northern Territory product Joel Jeffrey will make his AFL debut this weekend when he runs out for the Gold Coast Suns against the Melbourne Demons.
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NORTHERN Territory product Joel Jeffrey will make his AFL debut on Saturday when he runs out for the Gold Coast Suns against the Melbourne Demons.
Jeffrey has produced a string of impressive performances for the Suns VFL side gathering mass goals hauls against some of the best sides in the league.
The 19-year-old from Wanderers raised the bar last weekend when he produced a nine-goal haul in a best on ground performance over Aspley.
Suns senior coach Stuart Dew lauded Jeffrey for his recent perfomances stating he was happy to give the Territory young gun a chance.
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“He obviously had an outstanding game on the weekend, and he’s had multiple shots at goal for a number of weeks now,” Dew said.
“All of us have loved how he’s attacked coming into the full-time environment. It’s not easy to move away from family but from day one he’s put his head down and done the work.
“He’s always in here working on his craft whether it’s marking, goal kicking or game knowledge, he’s very, very coachable.
“There’s a pathway – we want to continue to foster that relationship. The lads up there want to be role models for their mates back home,”
Joel’s father, NT footy legend Russell Jeffrey played 42 games for St Kilda and 8 games with the Brisbane Bears before his AFL career ended in 1992.
The younger Jeffrey made his senior NTFL debut for Wanderers at the age of 16.
He has only excelled since then representing the NT Thunder Academy in the National Under-16 Championships, playing for the Allies and debuting for NT Thunder in the NEAFL.
Head of AFLNT Stuart Totham was thrilled to see another Jeffrey named as a senior AFL which sees the AFLNT and Gold Coast Suns partnership continue to thrive.
“This is a really proud moment. It is not easy for people from the Territory to be handed this opportunity of playing senior footy for an elite club, but Joel’s hard work has paid off,” said Totham.
“He’s worked hard from junior footy for this opportunity and it’s awesome to see such a great role model for younger Territorian footy players to see these opportunities are possible.
“Joel’s speed and silky skills at either end of the ground is magic to watch and I’m really looking forward to watching him play this weekend.
“The contribution the Jeffrey family has made to Territory footy and to the broader football community is immense and continues to sweeten with Joel’s debut.”
Jeffrey will also become the second Northern Territory product to debut for the Suns in 2021, following Malcolm Rosas Jr.
He will run out onto the field at Metricon Stadium for his debut on Saturday afternoon against the Melbourne Demons.
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