GC SUNS draftees Jesse Lonergan and Tim Sumner arrived on the Gold Coast and were immediately put to work, joining their new team mates for a testing session held in steamy conditions at Metricon Stadium.

For Lonergan, drafted at 13 with the Clubs first pick, it was the first tentative steps towards securing a round one call up.

"It’s clearly a goal of mine to play in Round One but that doesn’t mean it’s going to happen, there’s a lot of water to go under the bridge and I’m just keen to get into training and the pre-season."

The Tasmanian product admitting that the climate had made day one tougher than he had expected.

“It was pretty high intensity straight up and the heats getting to me but I’m just excited to get here and get into it and find my feet and get settled.”

South Australia’s Tim Sumner was still in shock as he stepped out in GC SUNS colours for the first time just days after being drafted with the Clubs second pick, selection 55.

"I’m still in a bit of shock and trying to get used to it but I reckon after the first couple of weeks I’ll get into it and things will start going good."

“I was watching it and when it got into the late forties, my confidence started going down and I didn’t think I would get picked up but yeah my name was pick fifty five to the Gold Coast so I was over the moon about that.”

GC SUNS List manager Scott Clayton suggested Sumner possessed the X factor on draft night and his latest recruit has promised to repay Clayton for his faith by doing everything he can to achieve his AFL dream.

“I think I am ready for the AFL, but it’s a big step going from the amateurs to the SANFL in the one year and now up here on the Gold Coast.”

Travelling the length of the country to join his new team mates not a problem for Sumner who is keen to become his own man.

"Leading into the draft I wanted to go interstate just to break away from the family and become a lot more independent myself as a footballer, but yeah the Gold Coast, I couldn’t ask for a better spot to come up here."

The GC SUNS will endure an intensive four week program before breaking to enjoy Christmas with loved ones around the country, however there will be little time to relax or for overindulging with the squad expected back on the Gold Coast and ready to get stuck into pre-season training on the 7th of January.