Draft Night Drama: The moment Gold Coast Sun Max Knobel’s AFL future changed forever
One of the AFL’s tallest young prospects thought he was heading back to Fremantle—until Gold Coast swooped in a draft shock. Now, he’s embracing a surprise second chance. Read his full story.
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Gold Coast ruckman Max Knobel has spoken for the first time on the night his life turned upside down, when an AFL draft night stunner sent him back to the city that first introduced him to football.
The 20-year-old was blindsided to be delisted by Fremantle under the assurance the Dockers would claim him back via the rookie draft in November.
The club never got the chance, with the Suns swooping to secure the 206cm prospect - one of the sport’s tallest players - with the fourth overall selection.
Months later, Knobel is still coming to terms with the selection shock that flipped his AFL dream on its head.
“Being delisted is never what you want to happen. I thought I was going back to Freo,” Knobel admitted.
“It was a massive shock. I didn’t know what was going to happen on the day.
“I was lucky enough to get picked up by Gold Coast. I’m very excited by the move and by the challenge.
“It’s a full circle moment, really.”
Queensland may be considered a football backwater outside the state’s borders but the Gold Coast was the fertile soil where Knobel’s journey in the sport began.
His father Trent, an AFL ruckman who played 75 matches over six seasons for Brisbane, St Kilda and Richmond in the early 2000s, relocated to the Glitter Strip upon his retirement in 2007.
Young Max was three years old at the time.
He learned to kick a football in the family’s backyard in Ashmore - less than six kilometres from People First Stadium in Carrara, the site he hopes to make his AFL debut this season.
While dad went on to become a key figure for Labrador in the NEAFL, Max’s beanpole frame stood out plenty for the Tigers’ cubs and at Benowa State School.
“It was good to get back to the Coast. It does feel a little like a homecoming,” Knobel reflected.
“Home for me is country Victoria but it certainly feels like home coming back.
“I spent a bit of time on the Gold Coast as a kid before I moved away when I was 10 or 11. I was a Labrador Tigers junior so it’s nice to be back down here.”
Knobel has moved in to trendy Burleigh, sharing a home with fellow Suns rookie Ben Jepson as the pair work to impress coach Damien Hardwick.
Knobel’s path to his senior debut is just as murky as it was in Western Australia.
Having served his apprenticeship behind star Dockers Luke Jackson and Sean Darcy, a Gold Coast engine room spearheaded by Jarrod Witts and his deputy Ned Moyles will be just as tough to crack.
“I’d like to hope it comes this year,” he said.
“I haven’t spoken to ‘Dimma about that stuff, I’m still in pre-season trying to find my feet and compete. That’s all you can ask for.
“They (Jackson and Darcy) are two ripping blokes who really helped me when I first got over to Freo. They taught me a lot about the ruck craft and what I need to do, and there’s plenty of good rucks on the Gold Coast with Wittsy as well as Ned Moyles.
“I just want to keep competing and learning and trying to get better.”
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