By Michael Whiting

Gold Coast SUNS had a clear gameplan going into Tuesday's NAB AFL Rookie Draft - protect its youngsters with more mature bodies.

And that's exactly what the GC SUNS did.

After taking talented 21-year-old Tasmania Aaron Hall in the Pre-Season Draft, the GC SUNS added former St Kilda midfielder Andrew McQualter, seasoned Western Australian Kyal Horsley, rugged defender Michael Coad and athletic project player Josh Hall to its rookie list.

McQualter, 25, played 89 games at the Saints and 28-year-old Coad played two games for the GC SUNS last season before tearing his hamstring off the bone.

In Horsley, Gold Coast SUNS also has an experienced, mature body, with a great pedigree.

The 24-year-old was second in the Sandover Medal in 2011 and won Subiaco's best and fairest and is ready-made if required at AFL level.

Coach Guy McKenna said the GC SUNS had identified more protection for its raft of younger bodies as a priority after their debut season.

He said the rookies would also provide relief at NEAFL level.

"We have a lot of quality young kids at seconds level too and we need to protect them with some size and maturity, and we weren't able to do that last year because of our emphasis on our 17-year-olds," McKenna said.

"You look at (draftees) Alex Sexton and Jackson Allen and Jaeger O'Meara for example - to have Andrew McQualter out there absorbing some of that physical punishment, Michael Coad, those type of players, it allows those boys to develop.

"To get those more solid citizens in to protect those boys is very handy."

Although senior players Gary Ablett, Nathan Bock, Michael Rischitelli and Jared Brennan bore the brunt of the workload last season, first-year players Zac Smith, David Swallow and Trent McKenzie all played 20-plus games and looked tired by season's end.

It had a flow-on effect through the club to its reserves team.

McKenna said the NEAFL team, coached by Shaun Hart, would benefit enormously from the extra maturity.

He said McQualter was a perfect fit coming from St Kilda.

"There's an issue with his girlfriend moving to the Gold Coast so it was an easy fit for us," McKenna said.

"He stuck his nose in, had a look around and was keen to pursue his AFL career so it became an easy fit. Him coming out of the St Kilda defensive program was also a great fit."

McKenna said Coad was a "ripping fella" who had overcome a horror run of injuries to be re-drafted.

McKenna was speaking at a sponsorship announcement for the GC SUNS that saw German-based power tool company Einhell come on board as the official coaches sponsor for the GC SUNS for the next three years.

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs