The Gold Coast SUNS recruiting team was thrilled to secure Central Districts midfielder Josh Glenn with selection seven in the rookie draft last Wednesday.

The South Australian is an inside-outside midfielder who has played two seasons of senior football in the SANFL and at 20 years of age is considered ready to play AFL football immediately.

Last year, Glenn declined an invitation to attend the AFL Draft Combine and withdrew his nomination from the draft, citing a desire to develop his football in the SANFL for another year. Twelve months on, and on the back of strong form for Centrals, the versatile onballer gets his opportunity on the Gold Coast.

“I didn’t know if I was ready for that next step. I gave myself another year of league footy ... and I had the best season I’ve ever had,” Glenn told The Advertiser.

“I’ve had two years of experience of league footy and it probably gives me that little bit more of an advantage to be able to play at the next level.

“Maybe if I didn’t get picked in the draft today, maybe I would’ve regretted (the decision). I’m just happy I got picked so I don’t have to think about it now.”

Despite a stellar season that saw him named in The Advertiser’s Team of the Year, Glenn was overlooked by all 18 clubs at the national draft and revealed he was determined to prove he could perform at the highest level.

“In the end, I’m more than happy to be picked up by the Gold Coast SUNS. They’ve got a big future ahead of them,” Glenn said.

“I’m going to work my butt off and have a massive crack at the next level to try and prove everyone wrong for not picking me.”

GC SUNS Recruiting Manager, Dom Ambrogio, is confident that Glenn can play senior football in 2015 if he applies himself to his training during the pre-season and gets the most out of his ability.

“He’s played two years of senior SANFL footy, (he’s) been a very effective player at that level. Beautiful left foot kick, he’s an elite talent,” Ambrogio said.

“We’ve got a midfielder that we think can play all zones of the ground in Josh Glenn.

“I think that all of them (rookies) if they work really hard could be a realistic chance of our senior team. They’ve all played at either SANFL, VFL, NEAFL or AFL level. All of them will be close enough if they work hard enough.”