Jeff White speaks exclusively with goldcoastfc.com.au
As a former number one draft pick, Gold Coast SUNS’ Ruck Coach Jeff White knows all about being drafted by a brand new team.
Whoever is picked number one on Thursday for the Gold Coast SUNS will have more than just their draft position in common, as White was the very first draft pick of the Fremantle Dockers before they entered the AFL for their inaugural season in 1995.
“The number one draft pick for the SUNS will be in the same situation I was, with a new club and can create their own history. I’ll always be the number one draft pick for 1994, but I’ll also always be the first ever draft pick for Fremantle,” said White.Originally from Melbourne, White was drafted first overall by Fremantle in 1994 and played 32 games with the Dockers before joining the Melbourne Demons where he went on to play 236 more.
“It was definitely a great honour out of all those kids to be the number one draft pick for the year. It’s something that every number one draft pick should be proud of, but it’s just a number at the end of the day,” said White.“My dream was to play AFL and it didn’t matter if I was number 1 or 100.”
White also recently discovered he holds the record for most games played of any of the number one draft pick in the last 25 years, having played 268 games in total.White now works as the development ruck coach with the Gold Coast SUNS in a part time capacity.
“I really enjoy it. I have been here since the Under 18s, since day one. So it’s been good just to see the development of this place and how it’s all unfolded over the last couple of years,” he said.
