Gold Coast captain Noah Anderson knows the next phase of his career is one of significant growth.
As he prepares to lead his Gold Coast Suns team out on the field for the first time as the new full-time captain of the club, he doesn't have to look far for shoulders to lean on.
It's never easy following club greats in important leadership positions. That's exactly what's ahead of the 24-year-old as he takes office of the league's second-youngest team after having the baton passed down to the next generation from Touk Miller and Jarrod Witts.
Speaking to Zero Hanger, Anderson paid tribute to the pair of outgoing captains and inaugural Suns player and former skipper David Swallow, acknowledging the "significant" roles both have played in his career to date at the Suns.
"Those guys have been significant in my journey as a player and as a leader at the club," he said.
"They led me into the leadership group at a pretty young age and exposed me to that side of the game and operating a club and how much goes into it."
It's quite the position for Anderson to be in. About to take the reins as a new young captain while having three former captains in behind you as you run out onto the field. It's a position that the superstar midfielder isn't taking for granted and will certainly be a resource he uses.
"I feel like, through their care and passion for the footy club, they've allowed me to step into this role now and lead the club forward while they will continue to be sounding boards and leaders in their own right," he said.
"I know things will come up that I might not know exactly how to deal with or have to work through.
"To have guys like that around will be invaluable."
Anderson and his best mate Matt Rowell have become the cornerstones of what this young Suns team has built towards. They enter the 2025 season with the strong belief that they can finally break the drought and play finals for the first time in club history.
Having stuck with the club through lean periods and false dawns with the constant allure of returning home, Anderson said he is determined to be a captain who can continue to take the club forward as it starts to challenge and be a contender.
He said he wanted to continue to drive the standards for the next wave of leaders at the Gold Coast Suns.
"I think that's something that I will learn and continue to change as my captaincy journey goes on," he said.
"I want to be someone that drives the group forward and has great relationships and leads by example on the field and off it.
"I want to be someone who continues to push the group and fill them with belief that we're going in the right direction and have what it takes."
Despite being a young man in a young playing list, Anderson said he'd have no issues in putting his teammates in their place if they needed to be, lauding the maturity of the group and how far it's come on its journey.
One of those tough conversations might just be with his best friend Rowell in trying to convince him to re-sign with the Suns as soon as possible.
"I think that's where the group is really developing an overall maturity as we get a bit older and a little more experienced," he said.
"I'm sure a couple of those (tough) conversations will have to come up along the way. Maybe a few with Rowelly and a few with others about little things.
"He's extremely valuable to our footy club. Not only as a player but as a person as well. He's well-loved.
"It's on us and me as a captain to provide an environment where he wants to stay and play footy where he can be successful."
Anderson's first game as captain of the Suns is scheduled for Sunday at Optus Stadium against West Coast.
