While most of the young SUNS prepare for the Gold Coast’s biggest campaign to date with one role in mind, versatile defender Joel Jeffrey has embraced another over the off-season.

Previously a livewire forward, in recent seasons Jeffrey has thrived across half-back under Senior Coach Damien Hardwick, and to top off a career-best season the 23-year-old has added another position to his resume - ‘dad.’

The Northern Territory talent welcomed his first-born son with partner Lucy last October and with pre-season in full swing, Jeffrey shared his experience adapting to parenthood as a professional athlete.

“Everyone talks about it but you don’t realise when it actually happens you don’t get much sleep at all,” Jeffrey shared. 

“Prioritising Jakiah and finding that balance to get sleep to perform for a big training day has been a big one (challenge) for me.”

Having a few more years of experience in the dad department, Gold Coast ruckman and father of two Jarrod Witts shared his own take. 

“The biggest challenge is probably just going home straight after training and trying to bring the energy,” Witts said.

“It's such an important time when you get home to be with your kids, especially on long days for that couple of hours you just want to be as present as possible. 

“I think at times you can get let down with the year or how you're feeling or how your day's gone, so I think it's just about trying to bring the energy when you get home and be as present as you can for your kids before they go down.”

The 33-year-old went on to recognise how his career provides the opportunity for him to be more present in his children’s lives.

“I think we're very fortunate as footy players. Obviously, there's times when things get ultra demanding and there’s a bit of travel, but at the end of the day we get to spend so much time with our family - time that I feel like not a lot of other people who have full-time jobs would get,” Witts reflected.

“With our little five-year-old going off to school this week I'm just so grateful that I got those five years at home with him.

“I didn't have to be working really long hours or away for extended periods of time and I was able to really cherish those moments from zero to five. No one can take that off me, and that's something that I'm very, very grateful for.”

SUNS vice-captain Sam Collins is also learning to master fatherhood alongside football, and the 31-year-old is already passing valuable lessons onto 18-month-old daughter Ivy.

While the key defender is teaching his little one to “try, try, try again” Collins told SUNS media the one thing she knows all about is the SUNS.

“Ivy knows what colours I wear to work,” Collins said.

“When I’m wearing red, she’ll say “Dada work.”

Going into his 13^th year of football with a career spanning more than 200 AFL games, Witts also encourages his young family to embrace a ‘give it a go’ attitude.

“For me, sport was such a big outlet and an enjoyable part of my life and I just want my kids to just go for it – to enjoy everything you're doing and just have a go,” the ruckman added.

“Don't worry too much about the outcome. Make mistakes having a go is kind of the motto that we're trying to go by.”