During the first half of 2015, Alex Sexton emerged as one of the most improved players inside Metricon Stadium, finding a niche inside Gold Coast’s evolving engine room. Injuries at different times in the back half of the season interrupted his impressive year, but he was one player to put his hand up for a spot in the SUNS midfield in years to come.



As the SUNS midfield division unravelled due to injury early in the year, the Queensland product was one of Rodney Eade’s key contributors between rounds four and six. He not only won his own ball and accumulated plenty of territory; he also put the clamps on opposition midfielders who were making an impact.



The pick of his season was against Adelaide in round six at Metricon Stadium. He was handed the imposing task of quelling the influence of 2014 All Australian Brodie Smith, preventing him from cutting Gold Coast up on transition with his ability to run and carry and then drive the ball inside 50. Sexton put the clamps on Smith, holding him to just 13 touches and no influence, as well as collecting 19 possessions of his own and a memorable running goal in the last quarter.



During this patch, the 21-year-old put his hand up to be the go-to run-with player on the SUNS list – a role Gold Coast have rarely used in the past. Later in the year, Sexton crossed paths with Smith once again and performed his duty clinically, holding the star Crow to just four disposals in the first-half before being relinquished of the role after the main break.



With the SUNS midfield crumbling once again in the second half of the year, with David Swallow quickly re-joining the exodus after a brief return, Gold Coast faced a massive challenge against fellow expansion side Greater Western Sydney in round 16. Sexton was handed the enormous assignment of departing Giant Adam Treloar and whilst not a hard tag, he performed another pivotal role, holding the star midfielder to his only sub-20 possession haul of the year. Another scalp to his name.



Unfortunately, Sexton’s impressive season came to a premature close after he suffered a knee injury against Adelaide on round 17. After trying to come back a couple of weeks after suffering the ITB injury, Sexton was shelved for the season with the club taking a conservative approach with the speedy midfielder.



Despite only managing 14 games, and no more after round 17, Sexton demonstrated in 2015 that he has a future in Gold Coast’s midfield rotation and adds a layer of versatility with his ability to nullify star opponents as well as being able to push forward and hit the scoreboard.