ANOTHER Queenslander has joined an AFL list, with Gold Coast signing talented midfielder Jackson Allen on Monday.
Allen was a shining light in this year's state under-18 team and cut his teeth at the senior level with Morningside in the NEAFL competition.
He trained with Gold Coast in the 2011 pre-season and was used as a top-up player in the reserves before the Suns signed him as a Queensland zone selection.
The 18-year-old said putting pen to paper was a dream come true.
"To be going to the Suns, I'm just rapt about it and can't wait to get down there and stuck into it," Allen said.
One person highly impressed by Allen is AFL national talent manager Kevin Sheehan. After seeing Allen star for the Queensland under-18s against the Northern Territory earlier this year, Sheehan described his kicking as elite and already AFL standard.
Allen's penetrating right boot is a hallmark of his game, and the humble teenager said it was a skill he worked hard on.
"It's [kicking] probably been my number one aspect growing up, something that I really pride myself on, my disposal and efficiency with the football by hand and foot," he said.
Allen is originally from South Australia - where his father Craig played for North Gambier in Mt Gambier - before the family moved to Brisbane when he was in primary school.
He played five seasons at Kenmore before joining neighbouring Western Magpies to play senior football, and then made the cross-town switch to the Panthers.
But it hasn't been all plain sailing, after a dose of osteitis pubis all-but destroyed Allen's 2010.
"Moving across to Morningside this year was probably the most difficult year I've had," he said.
"It was my first full year coming back from an injury. Also juggling between the state program and Morningside football was hard, but the club was really good."
Allen will relocate 70km to live at the Gold Coast, and said although it would be difficult moving from his tight-knit family, said he had a good dress rehearsal when living on the Coast during last pre-season.
Not only has Allen forged his way on to the Suns' list, he has also gone about helping other youngsters realise their playing dreams.
After deferring his university course for 12 months, Allen helped AFLQ's Brisbane West region deliver its successful Auskick program to schools and attend junior competitions to umpire.
Michael Whiting covers Gold Coast news for afl.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @mike_whiting
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs
