The Gold Coast SUNS this morning trained in their red and gold numbered home guernseys for the very first time.

In a week during which the club signed up its 8000th member, the occasion represented another significant step towards the GC SUNS’ AFL debut next season.

Exciting ruck prospect Zac Smith said he was rapt to wear his new guernsey for the first time. He was especially grateful to be able to maintain a sentimental attachment to his favoured number 2.

“I’ve pretty much worn the number 2 all my playing life,” said Smith. “Even when I was playing soccer a few years back, I played in the number 2 jumper.”

The Rockhampton-raised tall recently signed an extended deal with the club on the back of an outstanding 2010 season, one that earned him selection in the 2010 VFL Team of the Year.

Smith said he was enjoying being under the wing of recently arrived mature-aged recruit Josh Fraser.

“I was so happy when he came to the club,” Smith said.

“He’s been really good helping me with my development, especially in relation to my positioning around the ground and body work in the ruck contest.”

Eighteen year-old Victorian utility Taylor Hine will wear number 29, coincidentally the number made famous by high profile teammate Gary Ablett when he was at Geelong.

Hine said he was delighted to maintain a long-held connection to his favourite playing number.

“I’ve played in number 29 since I was under 9’s junior at [Victorian club] Rupertswood, and even won a couple of grand finals in it so it’s great to stay connected to it. It might be a bit lucky for me. You never know.”

Hine, who joined the club as a 17-year-old priority selection at the start of the year and played out the VFL season whilst still at school, was one of the club’s most consistent young players in 2010.

Although encouraged by his VFL form, he remains under no illusion about what lies ahead.

“I played a fair few games last season and I was pretty happy with how I went, but now it goes up a whole new level so I’ve got to keep training hard, hopefully get a game early on and keep working to hopefully hold my spot.”