Will Graham AFL: Hardwick and Rowell praise ‘special’ Gold Coast Suns Academy product

He’s the fourth and sometimes forgotten 2023 Suns Academy draftee but this second-gamer is already out-tackling Matt Rowell and Hawthorn’s entire midfield.

What’s scarier than lining up opposed to Matt Rowell in the midfield?

How about two Matt Rowells?

Such was second-gamer Will Graham’s incredible tackling display against Hawthorn on Saturday night you could be forgiven for thinking the Suns had discovered the secret to cloning their star midfielder.

Graham acted as Gold Coast’s tone setter with a staggering 14 tackles – six more than the next-best player, coincidentally Rowell – as the Hawks wilted under the Suns’ pressure.

Will Graham (left) and Sam Clohesy (right) have hit the ground running after making their AFL debuts against GWS in Adelaide. Picture: Getty Images

Remarkably Hawthorn’s midfield of Jai Newcombe, Conor Nash, James Worpel, Josh Ward, Cam Mackenzie, Henry Hustwaite and Lloyd Meek registered just 13 tackles between them.

Last year Rowell broke the league’s single-season tackle record but he was outshone in the clinches by a player who just seven days earlier had never played an AFL game.

Graham’s signature moment came in the third quarter when he ran down Jai Newcombe from behind to earn a holding the ball free kick 80m from goal.

His deft pass inside 50 was placed perfectly for the leading Ben King, who himself earned a free kick after his arms were chopped before going back and putting the Suns 40 points clear.

Every Gold Coast player within 50m made a point to go to Graham and tap him on the back for his chase down tackle – one of three holding the ball frees he earned on the night.

“Watching a young fella do that is an absolute team lifter and I love the way Will has gone about it ever since he got to the footy club,” Rowell told this masthead.

“I love that he’s gotten his opportunity and really taken it. He’s so strong on the inside there and I’m loving his work. He’s really proving his strengths on the inside in the contest and I’m really proud of him.”

Like fellow Suns Academy draftee Jed Walter, Graham boasts a mature body that looks every bit that of a seasoned AFL player.

Will Graham takes Hawks midfielder James Worpel down. Picture: Getty Images

Since being taken with the No. 26 selection in last year’s draft, the Palm Beach Currumbin product has packed on the muscle and worked himself to the bone to earn his early AFL chance.

One veteran last week revealed Graham was already benching 120kg – outdoing many of his teammates who have spent season after season building their strength in the gym.

“He’s got a naturally strong body for his age but he’s just worked hard ever since he got here,” Rowell said.

“No ego, he just wanted to get to work which he’s done and I’m glad he’s gotten this opportunity. You can see in the way he goes about it he’s going to be a great player for us.

“Dimma has really backed him in with the responsibility and he’s done a great job.”

Coach Damien Hardwick raised some eyebrows when he chose to debut three first-timers against the Giants a week earlier in Adelaide.

But that trio of Graham, Read and Clohesy all played pivotal roles against the Hawks – as did Walter, he earned his debut two weeks earlier against the Western Bulldogs.

Graham added 14 disposals and four clearances to his stat sheet as part of a stacked midfield rotation that includes stars like Rowell, Touk Miller and Noah Anderson.

Hardwick’s decision to play Graham through the middle of the ground from the jump is testament to the coach’s confidence in his young player.

Gold Coast looks to have struck gold with its 2023 draft crop. Picture: Getty Images

It has also unlocked the ability to play Sam Flanders across halfback – a role in which the former first-round pick has flourished the past two weeks.

“He craves the contest and that’s the sort of player you love to have in your footy club,” Hardwick said of Graham.

“The amount of times he looked out of the contest but put his head down and tackled and chased, that’s the sort of player we’re trying to build our footy club on the back of.

“He was outstanding last week and even better this week. I think we have a pretty special player.”

Originally published as Will Graham AFL: Hardwick and Rowell praise ‘special’ Gold Coast Suns Academy product