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

EXCLUSIVE: Two of Northern Territory football’s brightest prospects are edging closer to making their AFL debuts for the Gold Coast Suns.

Former Buffaloes star Mal Rosas is edging closer to making his AFL debut for Gold Coast Suns. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty Images via AFL Photos

TWO of Northern Territory football’s brightest prospects are edging closer to making their AFL debuts for Gold Coast Suns.

Mal Rosas Jr (Darwin Buffaloes) and Joel Jeffrey (Wanderers) made their way onto the Suns’ list as a result of the Darwin region forming part of the Gold Coast Academy program and have shone in the VFL in recent weeks.

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It opens the door for the pair to push their claims for an AFL debut as the Suns’ Sir Doug Nicholls match against Hawthorn at TIO Stadium approaches.

The AFL last Thursday announced the fixture for this year’s Sir Doug Nicholls Rounds, which will see the Suns host Hawthorn on Saturday, May 29, at TIO Stadium.

Gold Coast general manager of football, Jon Haines, said the club was pleased with the development of Rosas Jr in his second year at the club.

“Mally has really taken some massive strides this year and is looking extremely confident in his football,” Haines said.

“We love the way he plays. He’s quick, evasive and has amazing goal sense. He was rewarded by being made an AFL emergency last week and if he continues to train hard and perform on the weekends, it’s only a matter of time before he earns his chance at AFL level.”

Former star Wanderers forward Joel Jeffrey marks during a Gold Coast Suns AFL training session. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Jeffrey joined the Suns in December last year, and is starting to show what he’s capable of at VFL level.

“Joel has some amazing physical attributes that we think will hold him in really good stead for a lengthy career with the Gold Coast Suns,” Haines said.

“He’s continuing to learn and develop his forward craft and has shown his ability to take some really strong overhead contested marks which we’re excited about.

“We see great potential for Joel moving forward and he too will be very keen to push for an AFL debut at some stage this year.”

Both Rosas Jr and Jeffrey are Darwin success stories since the partnership was forged with the Suns in 2019.

Young Suns Academy and Northern Territory draft prospect Ned Stevens also spent time at the club earlier this year and is another who hopes to follow the same pathway to the elite level.