Joel Jeffrey facts for kids

Joel Jeffrey is a professional Australian rules footballer. He was born on March 12, 2002. Joel plays for the Gold Coast Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He is known for his skill as a forward.

Joel's Early Life and Football Journey

Joel Jeffrey grew up in Darwin, Northern Territory. His family has Indigenous Australian heritage from the Northern Territory and Queensland. Football runs in his family!

A Family of Footy Stars

Joel's father, Russell Jeffrey, was also a professional Australian rules footballer. Russell played at the highest level for the St Kilda Football Club. Later, he moved to the Gold Coast to play for the Brisbane Bears. After his AFL career, Russell went back to Darwin. He played for the Wanderers Football Club. He even coached the Palmerston Football Club to win two premierships in a row. In 2010, Russell was honored in the AFLNT Hall of Fame.

Starting Young in the NT

Joel started playing junior football for the Palmerston Football Club. He later joined the Wanderers Football Club. At just 16 years old, in 2018, he made his senior debut for Wanderers. This was in the Men's Premier League.

In June 2019, when he was 17, Joel played his first senior NEAFL game. He played for the NT Thunder at TIO Stadium. He even kicked a goal in his very first game! Joel was also chosen to play for the Allies team. This was at the 2019 AFL Under 18 Championships.

Joining the Gold Coast Suns

Joel planned to move to the Gold Coast in 2020. He wanted to join the Gold Coast Suns Academy full-time. However, the COVID-19 pandemic changed those plans. Despite this, Joel's talent was clear. In December 2020, the Gold Coast Suns drafted him. This meant he officially joined their team through their academy program.

Joel's AFL Career Highlights

Joel Jeffrey quickly made an impact in the AFL. He showed his amazing skills and talent early on.

Making His Mark in the VFL

In the first half of the 2021 season, Joel played for Gold Coast in the VFL. He had some incredible moments. One time, he kicked a winning goal right after the siren! He marked the ball with one hand in the final seconds. This helped his team beat the Sydney Swans. A month later, he had an even bigger game. He kicked 9 goals and was named the best player on the field.

AFL Debut and Rising Star

His strong VFL performances earned him an AFL debut. The very next week, he played his first AFL game. It was against the Melbourne Demons at Metricon Stadium.

In only his sixth AFL game, Joel had a standout performance. He kicked five goals against the Western Bulldogs. One of his goals was even nominated for Goal of the Year! He intercepted the ball and snapped it over his head. For this amazing game, Joel was nominated for the 2022 AFL Rising Star award. This award celebrates the best young players in the league.

Career Statistics Summary

Joel's career statistics show his growth as a player. He has played 28 games and kicked 16 goals for the Gold Coast Suns up to the end of 2024.