The last senior NT Thunder leader Shannon Rioli says Gold Coast Suns AFL pick-up Joel Jeffrey ‘one of the best local players I’ve seen’
NT Thunder’s last senior captain Shannon Rioli says Gold Coast Suns pick-up Joel Jeffrey is one of the best Territory talents he’s seen. And with a talented and youthful roster around him, Rioli believes the Wanderers product can help build something special on the Glitter Strip in the next few years.
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NT THUNDER’S last senior captain Shannon Rioli believes Joel Jeffrey’s freakish ability in the forward line – and his talented and youthful teammates around him – could well see him have a lengthy and successful AFL career.
The Gold Coast Suns were delighted to pick up the 18-year-old Wanderers product as their Darwin Academy zone selection.
And Rioli believes Jeffrey will be moving to an environment which will allow him to shine at the elite level.
“Joel is one of the best local players I’ve seen,” Rioli told the NT News.
“He has great speed and goalkicking ability.
“He comes from pretty good stock, too (his father Russell played for St Kilda and Brisbane Bears).
“He’s been in the Thunder system and trained with the Suns’ Academy and I think now he’s in an AFL system we will soon see just how good he can become.
“He can build some strong combinations with good forwards and players around him, like Matt Rowell, Izak Rankine and Sean Lemmens.
“And we’ve got (former Buffaloes star) Mal Rosas down there, so the Suns’ playing group can become competitive in the next few years.”
Jeffrey won’t be overawed by the prospect of playing in the AFL.
“The forward line is my preferred position, so I’ll be working hard towards achieving that goal,” he said.
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