Gold Coast recruit Connor Blakely is intent on busting into the Suns’ starting side having been given another chance at AFL level.
The 26-year-old delisted Fremantle midfielder was picked up by the Suns in last Wednesday’s Rookie Draft after 78 games over eight seasons with the Dockers.
Blakely acknowledges he is lucky to be afforded another chance at the top level and will do everything in his power to extend his AFL career by forcing his way into Stuart Dew’s plans for 2023 and beyond.
“I guess it’s a unique or a different situation to a young rookie that has just come out of high school or the TAC (NAB League) or whatever,” Blakely said on SEN WA Breakfast.
“I’m a mature age rookie so time isn’t necessarily on my side, which is totally fine as I’ve had eight years so far in the AFL and I’m lucky enough for it to be extended.
“I’m definitely not there to make up the numbers and be another number on the list. I’m definitely there to play senior footy. It’s quite obvious that is going to be the case from my point of view.
“Get there, get to work, meet everyone and build relationships, but at the end of the day it’s a business move.
“I want to extend my career for as long as possible and hopefully contribute to their on-field success.”
Blakely will have to compete for a starting spot with a burgeoning Gold Coast midfield consisting of the likes of Touk Miller, Noah Anderson, Matt Rowell, David Swallow and Brandon Ellis, among others.
He admits it was a “strange feeling” waiting for his name to be called out even though he was confident the Suns would come to the party.
“It was still 50-50, or maybe a little bit better than that, but in the last couple of weeks they definitely warmed to it and it was pretty much all but confirmed,” he added.
“My manager (Robbie D’Orazio) and the list manager (Scott Clayton) at the footy club both called me son the morning (of the draft) and said they would take me with their first pick.
“It was a strange feeling because I booked my flight a couple of weeks ago knowing it was all but confirmed besides if there was any interest from another club that would take me before them.
“But that wasn’t the case and you only need one club to be interested in you to get a contract, and here I am.”
Blakely was not seen at AFL level in 2022, last playing for the Dockers in Round 22 of the 2012 season.
The Bunbury native played 15 games for the Peel Thunder in the WAFL last year, averaging close to 25 disposals.
He averaged over 19 touches at AFL level during his time with Freo which started when he was drafted in 2014.