First-year duo Jacob Dawson and Brayden Crossley ticked off a special moment in their fledgling AFL careers by running out side by side against Collingwood on Saturday.

The two SUNS Academy products have been best mates since their junior footy days at Burleigh Bombers where they won four premierships together. 

They have played alongside each other plenty of times for the SUNS’ NEAFL side, but now the pair have completed their first AFL match as teammates. 

“It was really good, obviously disappointed we didn’t get the win but it was good playing with your best mate and it’s a dream come true,” Dawson told SUNS TV.

Crossley said watching his mate score his first AFL goal was one of many highlights.

“He hasn’t kicked many in his career at all so to get one at AFL (level) is pretty special,” Crossley told SUNS TV.

“I was only thirty metres away luckily so I was pretty much first or second there to make sure that I got around him.

“Like I said before he doesn’t kick many goals so it’s good to get around him when he kicks one.” 

The two Gold Coast locals will be hoping to add to their run of games together when the SUNS take on North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium on Sunday. 

“We’ve had a really good past couple of weeks on the training track,” Crossley said.

“We’re really confident we’re flying out there so I think it’s just putting together a four-quarter performance.

“We had a really good second half so I think if we can take that momentum through to next week… we’re pretty confident that our brand of footy will stack up against theirs.”