One of the most intriguing players in the upcoming AFL draft class is Dylan Patterson, a speedy half back out of Queensland with Indonesian heritage who received four contract offers from NRL-aligned clubs when he was just 15.

However, he stuck with the Aussie rules pathway and emerged from the pack in 2025 as potentially the best prospect in the entire cohort.

Patterson is entrenched in Gold Coast's Academy and will join the Suns, the only question is where a rival team bids on him to force Gold Coast to match it.

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With blistering pace and an elite sidestep, his rugby league fullback experience and touch is clear for all to see when watching him play.

But he chose the AFL, a sign that the league is now able to compete with

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