Jolly joins Coast

[CoastBhoy]

SA's Jolly joins Gold Coast

South Australian midfielder Hayden Jolly is the Gold Coast's latest signing

11:06 AM Tue 25 August, 2009THE GOLD Coast football club has signed its sixth 17-year-old, with South Australian midfielder Hayden Jolly agreeing to terms.

Jolly, who plays reserves for Glenelg, has been signed as one of 12 eligible 17-year-olds born between January and April 1992 who are able to sign with GCFC.

Gold Coast will become the AFL’s 17th club when it joins the league in 2011.

Jolly will join the elite training program under Coach Guy McKenna at Carrara in November and play with GCFC in the VFL next year.

He joins five other 17-year-olds already at the club, including Victorian TAC Cup players Joshua Toy (Calder Cannons), Matt Shaw (Dandenong Stingrays) and Trent McKenzie (Western Jets); and Tasmania’s Maverick Weller and Luke Russell.

Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna said Jolly was a good in-and-under type who can win his own ball and be damaging with his disposal.

“A natural, powerful right footer, with great agility around the ball, he has very clean hands and a great scope for further physical development. He will have the ability to play multiple roles given his ability to win his own ball and use it very effectively,” McKenna said.

“We are pleased Hayden has agreed to join us and be part of the Gold Coast Football Club journey to the AFL in 2011.”

Jolly was an AIS scholarship holder and, before turning to football, a champion junior volleyball player.

[Bandar]

Heard this may be the case a few weeks ago Hayden came through the juniors at my local club. In fact his mum still cooks the meals there on a Saturday night. Good lad from a good family and won't be short of effort when it comes to the crunch. Good luck to him.

[RUNVS]

I nearly had a heart attack when i read the title of this thread.

[BadSeed]

I nearly had a heart attack when i read the title of this thread.
One way to get attention to the club.....


Wait for them to find some kid in reserves somewhere last name "Ablett" or "Judd" or "Franklin" and sign them up based on that!

[CoastBhoy]

I nearly had a heart attack when i read the title of this thread.


Hahaha sorry mate.

[tcwaters]

I nearly had a heart attack when i read the title of this thread.
Haha, I was thinking the same thing too.

Any footage of this bloke CoastBhoy?

[CoastBhoy]

http://www.goldcoast.com.au/images/uploadedfiles/editorial/pictures/2009/08/25/NEWGOLDCOA_NEWS

Hayden set to make a mark on the Gold CoastNick Smart

August 26th, 2009

HE is the under-17 Australian beach volleyball champion but AFL-AIS graduate Hayden Jolly is set to make his mark at the Gold Coast Football Club.

Jolly, who flew to the Coast last week to meet coach Guy McKenna, yesterday become the club's first South Australian product.

Like many of the Gold Coast youngsters, Jolly has a background in another sport.

He is unique in that he has crossed over from beach volleyball, a sport in which he excelled.

He found more enjoyment in Aussie rules and has not looked back.

"I started playing beach volleyball when I was in year 8 and moved to Brighton High School, which has a volleyball special interest program," he said.

"I kept playing that for the next couple of years and made the switch when I started playing some pretty good footy.

"I also enjoyed it a bit more so I had no hesitation switching to AFL.

"I didn't dump beach volleyball, but it was to lighten the load."

Jolly, who will move to the Coast in November, said he was very impressed by the set-up at the GCFC.

"It is good to get it (the signing) out of the way and now I am able to tell people because it is official.

"The coaching staff at the GCFC are very nice people.

"They are going to be very successful with the group ... I can't wait."

Jolly, 17, who plays reserves for Glenelg in the SANFL, is described as a tough ball magnet who wins the ball at stoppages and contested situations, and is a reliable user by hand and foot.

He starred in the under-18 national championships, averaging 23 possessions and was SA's leading ball-winner on three occasions.

Jolly was also awarded SA's best player at last year's under-16 national championships.

McKenna said Jolly was a big signing for the club, which will enter the AFL in 2011.

"A natural, powerful right footer, with great agility around the ball, he has very clean hands and a great scope for further physical development," he said.

"He will have the ability to play multiple roles given his ability to win his own ball and use it very effectively."

Jolly joins five other 17-year-olds who have committed to GCFC, including Victorian TAC Cup players Josh Toy from the Calder Cannons, Matt Shaw from the Dandenong Stingrays and Trent McKenzie from the Western Jets.

Tasmanians Maverick Weller and Luke Russell have also committed to the club on top of its 10 contracted Queenslanders.

[lionshine]

Great signing for GC. They are signing up all the good players. Jack Darling and Andrew Swallow on draft day and gee you guys will have a great line-up.