One of the key focuses of the Gold Coast Football Club is building strong relationships, something that carries right across from the administration through to the players pulling on the guernsey each week.

This year’s No. 4 draft pick Ben Ainsworth has bought into that mantra, with the nuggety small forward able to form strong bonds with the club’s younger players at December’s Elite Development Program (EDP) camp.

It’s these relationships that help younger players come out of their shell and grow in confidence, ultimately smoothing their transition to adult life within a football club.

“We got to communicate with a few other boys and get to know them a little bit better,” Ainsworth told SUNS TV.

“It was just to form a few relationships and things like that so it was a really good camp and a really good destination.

“Formed a few more relationships with the 1-3 year boys over the EDP Camp. It’s been really good for our development in terms of confidence.”

Ainsworth has also been able to spend some time with childhood hero and now teammate Gary Ablett, with the Gippsland Power product trying to take in as much as he can from the dual Brownlow Medallist.


Ben Ainsworth now trains alongside childhood hero Gary Ablett. Image: AFL Photos. 

“He’s been really good over the last couple of weeks,” Ainsworth said.

“I’ve only had a few discussions with him but when he speaks it’s pretty truthful so you have to listen and take as much in as possible and he’s been great for us boys over the last couple of weeks.”