Ben Jepson will become the Gold Coast SUNS’ third AFL debutant of 2025 on Sunday in Adelaide.

Jepson was included in Damien Hardwick’s extended squad on Thursday night for Sunday’s clash against the Crows and was told that he would be making his AFL debut by Hardwick on Friday morning.

The 23-year-old joined the club during the supplemental selection period in February after being invited to train with the SUNS in pre-season on the back of several impressive VFL campaigns at both Coburg and Southport.

Jepson, who played school football with SUNS teammates Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson, and currently lives with Anderson, has played 13 VFL games in 2025.

“These are the great stories of the AFL. Ben was teaching this time last year and has worked his backside off to get given an opportunity,” Damien Hardwick said to media on Friday.

“He’s certainly earned the right to debut. He’s an incredible person first and foremost, but the way he goes about his football, you can tell he just loves the game. We’re looking forward to providing him the opportunity to represent our club in the AFL.”

Jepson joins key defender Oscar Adams and StreetSmarts SUNS Academy graduate Leo Lombard to have made their AFL debuts for the SUNS this season.

The SUNS final team will be named at 5pm this evening.