IT was a relatively straightforward AFL Draft for Gold Coast on face value in 2023, though plenty of planning went into the Suns’ bumper crop over a number of years. On top of an unprecedented four-pronged academy haul in the first round, the Queensland club also welcomed three new rookies.

>> UPDATED: Every Pick in the 2023 AFL Draft

NATIONAL DRAFT:

3. Jed Walter
9. Ethan Read
14. Jake Rogers
26. Will Graham

PRE-SEASON DRAFT:

2. Sam Day (re-listed)

ROOKIE DRAFT:

4. Sam Clohesy
18. William Rowlands
24. Jack Mahony

>> ANALYSIS: Big winners, bolters & sliders

Things went largely as expected for Gold Coast on night one of the National Draft. Powerhouse forward Jed Walter (pick three), mobile ruckman Ethan Read (nine), and diminutive midfielder Jake Rogers (14) were all bid on within the first 15 picks, before Will Graham was called out later in the opening round.

North Melbourne, Geelong, Sydney, and Adelaide were respectively the bidding culprits, though despite qualms raised by other clubs and fans alike surrounding the academy system, each selection was made in an arguably fair range and completely on merit. Credit to the Suns for nurturing such talent.

The best part about Gold Coast’s haul is the variety. There’s a physically imposing goalkicker to partner Ben King, a 202cm running machine who can potentially play in every key position post, a small midfielder with innate skills and smarts, and an explosive on-baller who can also play in defence.

Together, the home grown guns could prove the draftees which tip Gold Coast over the edge and into finals contention. Add to that one of the great coaches of the modern era and three handy rookies, and the Suns are poised as well as they have been in their short history.

Having traded out of night two of the National Draft, the Suns had one more club-tied player to introduce. Northern Territory native William Rowlands was welcomed as a rookie, with Gold Coast having access to him via its now well established Darwin zone concession.

Rowlands is a powerful midfielder-forward who represented the Allies this year alongside the Suns’ four academy graduates. He has played senior footy back home but spent this year in South Australia lining up for Norwood in the SANFL Under 18s.

Fellow rookie Sam Clohesy also had links to the Suns Academy through his junior career before going through the Calder Cannons system. Having been overlooked as a top-ager, this year’s Fothergill-Round-Mitchell medallist was drafted out of Werribee as a half-back who can also roll up to the wing.

Having re-listed Sam Day through the pre-season draft, Gold Coast rounded out its haul by taking on recently delisted former-Roo Jack Mahony, who had an injury riddled time at North Melbourne. Aiden Bonar and Jack Peris are other former AFL-listed players vying for a SSP spot at the Suns.

It’s difficult to pick any other club ahead of the Suns as being the biggest winner out of this year’s draft. There are several top-end players now at their disposal with serious staying power to potentially shift the club into uncharted waters for what looms as a historic period.