Southport Sharks defender Ben Jepson has been invited by the Gold Coast Suns to train over pre-season for a chance to be signed by the AFL club through the supplemental selection period (SSP).
Jepson starred across halfback for eventual VFL runners-up Southport after transferring across from Victorian-based side Coburg at the start of the year. Averaging 25.4 disposals, 82.9% disposal efficiency and 6.1 marks, Jepson was selected in the VFL team of the year this season.
The running half-back also played in the state match against the SANFL, and finished runners-up in Southport's best and fairest, narrowly missing out on back-to-back wins after receiving the honours at Coburg in 2023.
Reportedly on the radar of multiple clubs, including cross-town team Brisbane, the Suns swooped on the promising defender. Jepson will join recently delisted Sun Hewago Oea in Carrara and train with Gold Coast throughout their pre-season, perย AFL.com.au.ย
Should Jepson be signed by the Suns, he would join grand final opposition Riley Bice and former Northern Bullant Saad El-Hawli among the VFL players to be signed by an AFL club this season, as Bice and El-Hawli joined Sydney and Essendon respectively.
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Jepson's train-on chance is the fourth for a VFL player, with Dom Brew (Western Bulldogs), Liam McMahon (Carlton), and Jack Watkins (Port Adelaide) all on the cusp of living out their AFL dream.
