Suns choose well but must hang on to them
AFL: The Gold Coast Suns have blanked out all the preAFL draft noise to snare South Australian duo Jack Lukosius and Izak Rankine and Victorian tall Ben King inside the top six.
Lukosius was taken at No.2, fellow South Australian Izak Rankine went at No.3 and Gold Coast chose Ben King with the No.6 selection in Thursday night’s opening round of the two-day draft.
All were expected, but there are concerns the Suns will lose them in the coming years.
After Gary Ablett returned to Geelong last year, Gold Coast also lost co-captains Tom Lynch (Richmond) and Steven May (Melbourne) in the trade period.
The Suns are expected to struggle badly again next season.
Moments after the Suns chose Lukosius, Rankine and King, the social media trolling started – claiming Lukosius and Rankine would be back in SA within two years and King would soon join his twin brother Ben at St Kilda.
Lukosius said the Suns brought up the topic when they interviewed him.
“Loyalty was a big thing for them – that’s what came up in interviews a fair bit,” the key forward said.
“I answered pretty honestly and truthfully, the way I am. So they must have liked it.”
Lukosius does not want to look too far ahead – he is just happy to be at an AFL club.
“It’s an awesome feeling. I’ve always wanted to get drafted,” he said. “Now it’s finally happened and to have my mate Izak, and Ben as well, it’s going to be pretty exciting up there.”
Lukosius said it would help to have his friend Rankine also joining the expansion club at the same time.
“It’s obviously going to help heaps, having ... friendly faces there,” he said.
“But I’m more excited to meet everyone else up there and start making an impact, build some relationships.
“I just can’t wait to get up there and start training on Monday.”
Asked about the defections from the Suns, Lukosius said all he was worried about was what he could do for the club.
The plan will be for him to eventually replace Lynch as their main tall forward.
“That’s going to be the challenge ... I have some catching up to do,” he said.
“Hopefully I can impress a few people.”
— Roger Vaughan