The Gold Coast SUNS will play three debutants in Saturday nights QClash against Brisbane at the Gabba.
The GC SUNS will unleash Sam Day, the 3rd selection in the 2010 AFL Draft, along with Tom Lynch and Joey Daye.
South Australian Sam Day was widely considered one of the most exciting tall forward draft prospects for many years.
Day possesses a record-breaking leap – he beat West Coast Eagle Nic Natanui’s vertical jump standard by 3cms – and quite awesome agility to go with his natural speed and strength. To round it off, he is extraordinarily penetrative and accurate by either foot.
A ridiculously gifted baseballer, Day turned his back on a spot at the prestigious Major League Baseball Academy in the US to pursue an AFL career. Given his similarly impressive basketballing prowess it’s highly likely his decision to stay at home may have also been at the expense of a shot at the NBA.
Victorian-bred tall Tom Lynch was taken by the GC SUNS with Pick 11 at the 2010 AFL Draft.
A big key forward in-the-making with a huge tank, he’s renowned for his strong marking, particularly in contested situations.
He surged to prominence during last year’s National Championships with impressive performances for Vic Country.
The prodigiously talented Daye is a half back flanker with a raking left foot kick and natural, flowing running gait.
Raised in Brisbane, Daye’s a 19-year-old graduate of the AIS/AFL Academy. He hails from AFLQ club Zillmere Eagles and is a product of the 2007-08 Queensland U18 side.
He was a regular in the GC SUNS VFL side last year and impressed many with his willingness to turn defence into attack with run and carry.
Sporting excellence is very much a family affair in the Daye household. His father played soccer and AFL for NT at U18 level before becoming a first-division soccer coach in Brisbane, his mother Di played also played representative under 18 soccer in the Top End, one of his younger brothers also plays junior representative soccer and another has shown some promise on the rugby field.
He is also the godson of Essendon Norm Smith Medallist and premiership player Michael Long.
