As part of the Gold Coast SUNS reverse mentoring program, young key forward Charlie Dixon will be charged with acclimatising star recruit Gary Ablett at his new club.

Dixon will take the two-time premiership player and Brownlow Medallist under his wing, as part of a program that the Gold Coast SUNS hope will improve the leadership qualities of a number of their young players,
Cairns raised Dixon, 20, has been a key member and vocal leader during the early days of the Gold Coast SUNS and is proud to have been chosen to mentor one of the country’s best players.

“It was a bit daunting knowing that Gary was coming to the club and that I’m going to be showing him around,” said Dixon.

“But it’s nothing too hectic, just showing him around and introducing him to everyone at the club, showing him the values and basically explaining what goes on around the club.”

Dixon said some of his other duties will include explaining the club’s expectations for the players.

“Cleanliness in the players’ room, in the change rooms and the gym, stuff like that. He can come to me if he has any questions. I’ll try and make settling in as easy as possible for him and the whole group. He doesn’t want to be stepping on anyone’s toes, just like we don’t want to be stepping on his toes.”

All of the uncontracted players, which include their most experienced AFL footballers, will be assigned young mentors to help integrate them into the Gold Coast SUNS culture.

The Gold Coast SUNS have worked hard to build a reputation as the most exciting sporting club in Australia. Much of the excitement comes from the club’s core values of being dependable, bold, community, fresh and relentless, values that Ablett and the rest of the newcomers will now embrace.

Dixon said with his help, it shouldn’t take long before the aura around Gary disperses and he is fitting in.

“The same thing happened with ‘K’ (Karmichael Hunt), there was a big aura around him but after a few days he was just another one of the boys.”

Dixon said he is also hoping to learn a few things from Ablett, who he expects to become one of the leaders around the club before long.

“That will be great. The experience that he has being a double premiership player and Brownlow medallist, you can’t ask for anything else, so I think he’ll do really well.”