Ben Jepson, the 184cm midfielder/defender drafted from Southport will take to the field against the Crows on Sunday, to mark his first game in the AFL. The 23-year-old earned a spot on the senior list after an impressive pre-season performance, invited to train at the club by senior coach Damien Hardwick.

Jepson is touted as a versatile midfielder and has developed a long-term bond with fellow teammates Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson, who he played footy with in his school days.

Ben moved to the Gold Coast for a lifestyle change, spending three seasons with the Coburg Lions, and one with the Southport Sharks in the VFL.

Jepson’s rise to the top level, reflects his efforts at VFL level, having led Southport to a grand final birth in 2024.

The Carey Baptist Grammar School product joined the club in February and joins an elite list of players who have graduated from the school to play AFL football.

Alongside Anderson and Rowell, that list includes the likes of Collingwood star Nick Daicos.

His journey wasn’t easy, missing selection in the 2019 AFL Draft. After several seasons playing for Coburg, where he won the 2023 Best & Fairest, Jepson was selected by the SUNS as a supplemental selection period (SSP) pick after his first season at Southport, where he came second in the club’s best and fairest in 2024.

Jepson is the second player selected by the SUNS as an SSP selection alongside now SUNS VFL captain James Tsitas, who played five AFL matches in 2023 and 2024.

The AFL is full of inspirational stories, and Jepson is proof that it’s never too late to pursue your dreams. Welcome to the SUNS family Ben!