Queenslander, Andrew Boston, will make his debut for the Gold Coast SUNS tomorrow.
Queenslander Andrew Boston is set to make his debut for the Gold Coast SUNS against Adelaide tomorrow.
The 19 year-old has been a stand out for the SUNS reserves in the NEAFL this season, playing off the half-back line, and his form has been rewarded with elevation off the rookie list.
An Under-18 All-Australian in 2012, Boston was unlucky to miss out on selection in the national draft last year, before being picked up with the first selection in the Rookie Draft by Gold Coast.
The youngster had a breakout year in the NEAFL last year, for the Broadbeach Cats, and collected was a clear winner of the 2012 NEAFL Northern Rising Star award.
He has proven his ability against senior men, both in the NEAFL, and also as a standout player for the NEAFL Northern side in the representative match against the SANFL last month.
Born and bred on the Coast, Boston will surely have plenty of support from friends and family when he runs on to Metricon tomorrow for his big-time debut.
Boston said he couldn’t believe it when senior coach Guy McKenna told him the news on Wednesday.
“It didn’t hit me straight away but I’ve begun to realise that I am going to be playing AFL football this weekend, and so I’m really looking forward to the challenge.” Boston
told the Gold Coast SUNS website.
“I was just doing my gym work and he (McKenna) said – If you can jump this high you’ll be playing senior football,” Boston said.
“Then after I did it he said he was being serious, so he was playing around a little bit but it was good.”
Born and raised on the Gold Coast, Boston was a graduate of Helensvale High, one of AFL Queensland’s Schools of Excellence.
Boston will be the fourth Queenslander to make his debut this season, alongside Collingwood’s Adam Oxley and Josh Thomas and Brisbane’s Sam Michael.
He will also be the third former Broadbeach player to make his debut in as many years, following teammate Joel Wilkinson (2011) and Brisbane’s Dayne Zorko (2012).
The SUNS face Adelaide at 1:40pm at Metricon Stadium tomorrow.
