Suns draftees want to bask in opening game
Gold Coast's inaugural national draft picks David Swallow, Harley Bennell and Sam Day could easily make history a second time by being selected in the Suns' first ever AFL side.
The Suns, who enter the competition in 2011, took Swallow (from East Fremantle), with their first pick, followed by Bennell (Peel Thunder) and Day (Sturt) at the AFL national draft at the Gold Coast Convention Centre.
The trio told reporters their goal was to play in the Suns' opening AFL match in round two against Carlton at the Gabba on April 2. The Suns have a bye in round one.
"Definitely want to be in the team," Bennell said.
Swallow had known he would be drafted by the Suns after moving from the west coast to the Gold Coast to play in the VFL season.
It was just a matter of whether it was one, two or three.
He was told on Wednesday he'd be joining the likes of St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt, Saints defender Brendon Goddard and Hawthorn's newly appointed captain Luke Hodge as a No.1 AFL first draft pick.
"I found out yesterday officially that I would be No.1," Swallow told reporters.
"It took a bit of the pressure away from tonight.
"There's obviously going to be pressure with being the number one pick.
"It's definitely a big honour but it's also important to acknowledge the other boys that whether it was one, two or three, it really didn't affect the outcome."
"I've been here a year so I've got to know all the players well.
"The players we've picked up the last couple of years make it exciting for the next couple of years..
Day, a 196cm forward from Sturt, could be fast tracked into the Suns' line-up as they lack genuine big marking targets in attack.
He said he still needed to physically mature to be considered for the Suns' opening game.
"I have a pre-season ahead of me so I have to work hard before I get to that stage," Day said.
The Suns had eight of the first 13 picks at the draft.
They chose midfielder Josh Caddy (Northern Knights), midfielder Dion Prestia (Calder Cannons), ruckman Daniel Gorringe (Norwood), forward Tom Lynch (Dandenong Stingrays) and defender Seb Tape (Glenelg) with picks seven, nine, 10, 11 and 13 respectively.
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