Young SUN Oscar Adams is no stranger to an AFL pre-season but his first on the Gold Coast is heating up.
After moving to the sunshine state last May as part of the 2025 AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft with fellow recruit Caleb Lewis, Adams is in the midst of tackling his maiden Gold Coast SUNS pre-season.
The 22-year-old told SUNS media that the intensity and volume of training sessions this summer has cranked right up in preparation for the club’s biggest campaign yet.
“Getting used to that (difference in training) and conditioning yourself for games is always hard at any level, but I think here it's been next level,” Adams said.
“Then with the heat and humidity as well on top of it, it just really adds up.
“The expectation around here is to go to finals and go deep into finals.
“We’ve been training well, so I think we’re well prepared.”
Over the summer, Adams has been working closely with fellow key defender Mac Andrew under the guidance of assistant coach Josh Drummond.
“Drummo's really taken me in, he’s been great,” the 202-cm defender added.
“He’s put a real focus on Mac and I and developing us from a strength point of view, as well as craft.”
Adding eight games of AFL experience to his belt in the backend of 2025, the mid-season recruit is feeling more confident heading into his second year under Damien Hardwick.
“When I came in mid-season, it was pretty tough not knowing exactly how we played and that sort of thing,” Adams shared.
“So, coming into the 2026 season with the knowledge of the game plan and having that clarity on where to go, position [requirements] and who I'm playing with – I think that'll help so much and add to the game as well.
Off the back of a gruelling 14-weeks at the Austworld Centre, Adams is eager to see the club reap the rewards of the work the SUNS squad has poured in.
“I'm looking forward to Round 10, around that mid-season mark, just to see where we're at and if what we've been [working for] is going to come to fruition.”
“I suppose when you're working hard, like we are at the moment, you want to go all the way.
“And I think later in the season to see where we're at compared to where we're expecting to be - that’s pretty exciting.”
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