Territorian Ned Stevens is already impressing at Gold Coast Suns Academy after making move

WARATAH young gun Ned Stevens has relocated to the Gold Coast as he looks ahead to a big 2021 and pushes his case for a potential future AFL draft selection.

Star Darwin athlete Ned Stevens is already impressing at the Suns Academy. Picture: Gold Coast Suns Media

WARATAH young gun Ned Stevens has relocated to the Gold Coast as he looks ahead to a big 2021 and pushes his case for a potential future AFL draft selection.

Stevens has been living on the Gold Coast for a month and is already enjoying the lifestyle, even taking the chance to learn how to surf.

But most exciting for the Territorian, who was named in the NAB AFL Academy squad in December, has been getting the chance to train with the Suns’ AFL side.

The 195cm player possesses the skills to play in both the forward line and ruck, with leaping one of his key assets, something that would come as no surprise to anyone who knows his basketball background.

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Stevens was one of the form performers in the Darwin Basketball Championship in 2020, helping the Tracy Village Jets to a grand final.

In the NTFL he played with Waratah where the coaching of Ryan Ayres and tutelage of senior players Abe Ankers, Callum Searle and Rob Turnbull pushed his game to new heights.

NT Thunder Academy coach Jason Roe has also played a big part in the young gun’s development.

“It’s exciting to have these good opportunities that I have down here. I’m really enjoying it,” Stevens told the NT News.

“Getting to train with all the AFL boys has been great. I’ve done a bit of training with the side and the level is obviously higher with them which has been good.

“I’ve been here for about a month now and I’m enjoying it.

“The lifestyle here is great, it’s much cooler than Darwin and I’ve even been trying to surf.

“Basketball helped my development a lot jumping all the time, and helped my ability to read the play.

“Playing in the AFL had always been a dream of mine and this was a great opportunity for me, though I still love playing basketball.”

Gold Coast chief executive Mark Evans stated the Suns’ partnership with the Territory would involve more than an annual game, with the club committed to supporting and growing Territory footy.

“The Suns have established talent pathway programs with the AFLNT for men’s and women’s players. We support local coaches and are working on a football-based education program for Darwin schools,” Evans said.

“As part of our talent pathway program, Territory prospect Ned Stevens ... will play a mix of games with Labrador in QAFL, NT Thunder, Suns Academy and possibly our VFL side. He is also part of the AFL under-19 National Academy.

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“Two weeks ago, Territorian Janet Baird made her debut for the Suns AFLW side, and NT players Malcolm Rosas Jnr and Joel Jeffrey will be hoping to do the same for the club this year in the AFL.”