AFL Queensland are trying to get GPS schools more involved (see below Nudgee playing an invitational game a few weeks ago) but ultimately it's going to be extremely difficult to get the best athletes to play Aussie rules and retain them while they attend GPS schools. Ben Keays (Terrace) is really the only notable name I can think of in recent times. Having said that, there have been a few guns over the last few decades to come out of GPS schools like Jason Akermanis (Nudgee) and Jason Dunstall (Churchie). I think we're more fortunate on the Gold Coast to not be so heavily influenced by top level interschool sport. It allows us to create new excellence programs and quickly establish powerhouse development programs like PBC and Helensvale. Southport State High have also started an excellence program in the last few years so expect them to start competing soon. Southport State High already won the AFLQ Schools Cup Gold Coast qualifying tournament this year so they are probably already the third best AFL school on the GC.
I played juniors with a Stephen Lawrence who ended up runner-up in the Norm Smith in 1991 when Hawthorn beat West Coast. Pretty sure he was a private school boy. He tends to get forgotten about when discussing Queensland's best footballers but he was a gun and a really nice guy to boot. Won the Larke medal in the U17s and also was BOG for Queensland when they beat Victoria (B) at the Gabba in '91. If the AFL can really break into the GPS system in a big way, there will be more Akermanis', Dunstalls, and Lawrences for the taking.