Putting his best foot forward and getting his body right for 2026 are firmly on the ambitions board for young SUNS midfielder Will Graham.
Graham joined the club’s first to fourth year players in returning to pre-season training last week, marking the start of the 20-year-old’s third pre-season since being drafted out of Palm Beach Currumbin two years ago.
Graham knows all too well the feeling of stepping up from the StreetSmarts SUNS Academy to the SUNS AFL list, having formed part of a historic 2023 draft in which the SUNS welcomed local quartet Jed Walter, Ethan Read and Jake Rogers alongside Graham to the list.
He shared the excitement of welcoming several new graduates as well as a number of experience heads to the fold.
“It’s been exciting meeting all the new boys,” Graham said.
“All the Academy boys, plus Avery, are doing very well in their first couple of weeks.
“Obviously the Academy boys have been here for a while, but Avery has just come in, put his best foot forward and he’s done really well so far.
“I've been doing a little bit with Trac because we're in the midfield group together but Jamarra’s also been working very hard over the off-season.”
A shoulder injury sustained in Round 9 saw Graham spend a significant portion of the 2025 season on the sideline.
His commitment to ticking the boxes in order to return to action didn’t go unnoticed, taking out the club’s Most Professional Award despite playing just the one VFL match in the latter stages of the campaign.
Getting back to full fitness and playing a role in Damien Hardwick’s side is what’s driving Graham through the heat and humidity of a Gold Coast pre-season.
“My goal is to get out of rehab probably first and foremost,” Graham added.
“Also to see where we can go as a group - I feel like this year we've all gelled together.
“We've played under Dimma for little bit, got a little taste of success last season with the first final and the first win in finals but I feel like we can do a couple steps better and see how far we go.”
“We’re a very energetic young group and we’re going to be pretty exciting this year, so let’s see what’s to come.”
Secure your seats at People First Stadium in 2026 with a SUNS Membership. It all begins under Friday night lights against Geelong on Friday March 6th.
