Tyronne Downie was the
subject of a small milestone during the NAB AFL Rookie Draft when he became the first and last player recruited from defunct VFL outfit Bendigo Gold.
A star player/coach of Bendigo Football League club Kangaroo Flat, Downie had only just signed with the local VFL team – which was waging a public battle for survival due to financial problems.
The Gold folded in August, but one season back at VFL level – after injury ruined his first attempt in 2007 – was all it took for Downie to flash across the Suns' radar.
Still pinching himself that his AFL dream has come true, Downie paid tribute to coach Aussie Jones and chairman Tim Dickson for fighting to keep the Gold afloat last season.
"Aus and Tim, I've thanked them dearly. If they hadn't kept the Bendigo Gold up and running this year – and everyone else that did their bit - I wouldn't have been given this opportunity," Downie said.
"I definitely didn't expect this to happen and it wasn't the reason I went to play with the Gold - it was just to have a dip at VFL footy and to play the highest standard that I could in Bendigo.
"With them having a young list, being an older guy appealed to me too and I just wanted to go back to VFL and have a real crack."