Waiting until he was 22-years-old to get an opportunity at AFL level has held new rookie Fraser Thurlow in good stead.

Thurlow, who was taken with the club’s first selection in last week’s Rookie Draft, said he believed there were benefits in being a mature-aged recruit.

“I will work as hard as I can over the pre-season and then once we get to the season, I will assess my goals,” Thurlow said.

“I want to make sure if I get the opportunity I am ready to go, ready to play well and perform my role.”

After previously being overlooked in the AFL system, the 199cm ruckman has been developing his game playing for Labrador on the Gold Coast.  

“I was so excited as I have been working for it since I was five years old and I was prepared to keep working for it as long as I had to,” he said.

“Missing out in the last few years of the draft makes it even more special to be at the Bombers.

“I was always confident in my ability and hoping that I would get there, especially being a bigger guy because it takes a bit longer to develop."

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It has been a different pathway for Thurlow, who hails from the Gold Coast where AFL is not traditionally the first choice football code.

“My parents are big AFL supporters and my dad’s whole family supported Essendon growing up as he is originally from Melbourne,” he said.

“Dad moved to the Gold Coast and they have been supporting the Brisbane Lions ever since so I have grown up around AFL my entire life.”

Thurlow fills an important void on the Bombers’ list providing further depth in the ruck stocks alongside PatrickRyder and Tom Bellchambers.

He said he was already starting to settle in to the dynamics of the club at the True Value Solar Centre.

“It has been great, all the players have been really friendly, I am fitting in well and the training has been great,” he said.

“I feel like I am already starting to improve being in an AFL environment.

“Having Paul Chapman and Dustin Fletcher is a big help, it gives you a bit of confidence and they give you plenty of tips here and there. They make you feel more welcome around the club as well which is great.”
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