George’s culture club

Suns recruit finds tight-knit 2019 playing group

BEFORE any promises of breakthrough results on field, Suns recruit George Horlin-Smith says the Gold Coast community will have an AFL team they can be proud of in 2019.

Horlin-Smith played 51 games for Geelong, getting as far as the semi-finals in 2014 with one of the competition’s powerhouse clubs.

The 26-year-old has spent his first few months in Queensland observing the Suns while putting in everything to help turn both the club and his own career around.

What he uncovered was culture of honest hard work he believes could be the making of the Suns. “This group is open to challenges and they are ready to work hard,” he said.

“They want to improve and seek a lot of feedback from coaching staff.

“In terms of what they can achieve this year, I’m not sure exactly how that should be measured but I’m confident with work they have done we will be in a position to hopefully make the Gold Coast community proud of the football club. That’s what we want to do as a team.”

Horlin-Smith spent eight years at Geelong before being traded to the Suns at the end of last year and the midfielder said he had settled into life on the Gold Coast.

“I have felt really comfortable from day one,” HorlinSmith.

“I have been able to find common ground with a lot of people quickly and that’s helped with feeling like home.

“My partner has settled up here as well and we have been able to find our local coffee shop.

“It’s those little things outside of footy, those homely touches, that have certainly helped.

“I’m really enjoying my time here.”