Gold Coast Suns deliver verdict on No. 2 draft pick Jed Walter’s AFL debut

Gold Coast Suns’ top pick from last year’s draft won’t be guaranteed games after a quiet AFL debut, but the club is bullish about his huge potential.

BALLARAT, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 24: Ben King of the Suns celebrates a goal with teammate Jed Walter during the 2024 AFL Round 02 match between the Western Bulldogs and the Gold Coast SUNS at Mars Stadium on March 24, 2024 in Ballarat, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Jed Walter may be “the future” of the Gold Coast Suns but he won’t be gifted senior games based on potential alone says forwards coach Brad Miller.

Walter, the No. 3 selection in last year’s national draft, wowed the footy world with his physical traits against the Western Bulldogs last weekend and although he had a quiet day on the stat sheet, showed glimpses of the potential that made the Suns invest so heavily in him from a young age.

With the body of a seasoned AFL player and skill set likened to Coleman Medallist Charlie Curnow, Walter entered the league with a mountain of expectation on his shoulders.

Goalless from four disposals on debut, the 18-year-old was well contained by the Bulldogs’ backline in the 48-point defeat in Ballarat but Miller said the coaching staff were “really pleased” with the young key forward’s first showing.

Jed Walter skips away from Ed Richards on debut. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“We saw the potential,” Miller said.

“He’s a competitive beast that plays with speed. For a big fella, he was up there with some of our highest speed (players) for the game. His ability to cover turf like that and compete with intensity was really impressive.

“So we got a glimpse of his potential. It wasn’t his greatest performance, but we saw what lies underneath.”

The Suns enter their bye week at 2-1 ahead of a Gather Round clash with premiership fancies GWS next weekend.

Jed Walter celebrates a goal with Ben King. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

After two impressive wins to open the season, Damien Hardwick’s side was brought back to earth by the Bulldogs.

“We broke down all over the place going inside 50 against the Bulldogs,” Miller said.

“They were able to break off and mark the ball too much. It’s something we’ll have to address.

“Because we have such a different mix (of players compared to) the last couple of years, they’re still finding their feet. There’s been some good patches of play … but then we’ve been quite dysfunctional at times as well, so we’re trying to get to the bottom of that.”

At their best the Suns have looked a finals-caliber side and with a glut of teams expected to fight for the lower reaches of the eight this season, every win will be crucial.

When Dimma comes to your house to tell you about your @AFL debut pic.twitter.com/226vseFbAs

— Gold Coast Suns (@GoldCoastSUNS) March 21, 2024

It will mean striking a balance between player development and picking the best team each week.

To that end, Miller said Walter’s place in the side moving forward would be solely on merit.

“Performance will determine that,” Miller said.

“We need him to perform to a level that will help us win games and that’s paramount.

“A guy like Jed, he’s going to be the future of our footy club so yeah we want him to be in the side as much as we can, but his performances will determine that.

“He’s going to get a lot of people talking about him internally, externally, whatever, so he’s going to have to manage that.

“Our challenge as coaches and him as an individual is to stay firmly in that circle of things he can control.”

Originally published as Gold Coast Suns deliver verdict on No. 2 draft pick Jed Walter’s AFL debut