PORT Douglas stars Kye Chapple and Jesse Mawson adjusted to NEAFL footy with ease for Gold Coast SUNS on Saturday in their loss to Redlands.

Chapple was used as a high half-forward and Mawson through the midfield at Metricon Stadium, with the pair joined by AFL listed trio Clay Cameron, Tim Nicholls and Jarrod Gartlett for the SUNS.

Chapple said the reality of where they were playing set in pre-game when AFL superstar Gary Ablett Jnr walked into the rooms.

“We were sharing the same (rooms) as the AFL boys so it was a bit surreal when little Gazza (Ablett) and those sort of blokes were walking around,” Chapple said.

“But once we got over some initial nerves we went well and it was a great experience.

“With their AFL listed guys playing I was told to get high up the ground and stay out of the forward fifty, so it was good to run around and get a few kicks.”

The SUNS development team went down to Redlands by 69-points.

Chapple and Mawson will return to the Port Douglas line-up this Saturday against Manunda Hawks. The Crocs had the bye on the weekend.