Academy: Gold Coast SUNS Gun Factory

Remove this Banner Ad

Good squad but will be even better next year when many of them are in their final year and topped up with a few of this year's U15s - then it looks a little bare for 2026. Hope things will change and some of the young ones really stand up. 2024 and 2025 should yield a few gems - just a pity Kalani White (probably) won't be among them.
 
Some familiar names in there making the final cut - Joe Kennedy (son of Maxy), Josh Watters (son of Scott), Kalani White (son of Jeff), Taj Lockett (nephew of Tony) and Zai Millane (nephew of Darren). It would appear that all of those players that not named Kalani White are there for us to draft if they are good enough.

Very young for an U18 team with Addinsall, Murray, Patterson, Uwland, White, Leeds, Collins, Johnston, F.Gray, H.Gray, Watters, Coulson, Cramp, Iverach, Hoy, Hudson, Clark, Lockett and Z.Eckersley all bottom agers in the team as well as a few more that are another year younger (Hill, Harris etc). Not expecting this young team to be overly competitive against the Vic CTL sides but hopefully that doesn't prevent the standouts like Lombard from shining this year.

Anyone know when they start playing competitive games this year?
I think the first game is 8th March but still waiting for confirmation - who and where etc. Hopefully the Academy will put out the full schedule somewhere.
 

Log in to remove this ad.

Some familiar names in there making the final cut - Joe Kennedy (son of Maxy), Josh Watters (son of Scott), Kalani White (son of Jeff), Taj Lockett (nephew of Tony) and Zai Millane (nephew of Darren). It would appear that all of those players that not named Kalani White are there for us to draft if they are good enough.

Very young for an U18 team with Addinsall, Murray, Patterson, Uwland, White, Leeds, Collins, Johnston, F.Gray, H.Gray, Watters, Coulson, Cramp, Iverach, Hoy, Hudson, Clark, Lockett and Z.Eckersley all bottom agers in the team as well as a few more that are another year younger (Hill, Harris etc). Not expecting this young team to be overly competitive against the Vic CTL sides but hopefully that doesn't prevent the standouts like Lombard from shining this year.

Anyone know when they start playing competitive games this year?

Lockett and F Gray not bottom agers.

Agree, is a very young team and will struggle against the Vic boys in their draft year.

Nine overagers in the squad will provide some bigger bodies.

From all accounts, this years crop is fairly sparse, outside of Lombard and Gulbin.


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com
 
Lockett and F Gray not bottom agers.

Agree, is a very young team and will struggle against the Vic boys in their draft year.

Nine overagers in the squad will provide some bigger bodies.

From all accounts, this years crop is fairly sparse, outside of Lombard and Gulbin.
You're right. Despite competing in the U16 national champs last year, both Lockett and Gray aren't bottom agers this year.

Don't know anything about Gulbin other than him playing juniors with Leo at Burleigh and now both are at Broady. What can you tell us?
 

13s Males

North HUBSouth HUBNth Rivers HUB
First NameSurnameFirst NameSurnameFirst NameSurname
RaffertyAdamsHarlenAndrewsJackBrown
JackAileySpencerBalleXavierCaine
JacobArfusoIzaacBebendorfLewisCunynghame
JonnyBemrosePhoenixBerbakovRemyElliott
KaidenBrownLennoxBlackWilliamFrance
JordanBurkeJakeBlackNoahGriffiths
JasperCampbellTajBoltBeauHalliday
EthanCampbellHuddyBowkerWilliamHaslop
HudsonComfortJimiCallinanSaxonHealey
MaxCowlingLeviCarrollLouisJohnston
BraydenDobsonJettCleggOttoMaiden
SherlockForsterMaxCritchleyMasonMcAuliffe
BrodyFrancisFletcherEggert-WittsArloPetersen Lyne
JasperHarveyCooperEwartSuryanRaju
OliverHigginsAshtonFlowerFinnReynolds
CareyHillCadeFranceseJackRogers
JordanHollandLeviHamCallanRoss
AidenJamesKaiHawkerCharlieRust
SamsonMackieLeoJonesJacobSchutt
BrodyMcErlaneWillLawtonFlynnSmallmon
LachlanMcNaughtonHarleyLyonHenryStrahan
CalebMooreNoahMarshHudsonVecht
DanielRavenHugoMcBrideZaneZimmerle
MaxReidCalebMcDougall
Gerard JackSangstonCameronMcLean
LyntonShawCooperMeesen
CouperSmithWillMiller
CruzStevensPatrickOBrien
JamesWalduckTylerOrd
NateWhiteBillyPayne
NicolasRankin
JedRobinson
ZachariahRowse
JacobSealey
KobySmyth
BuckleySnare
HamishStevenson
TazTraill
KaiWhite
KaiWilson

14s Males

North HUBSouth HUBNth Rivers HUB
First NameSurnameFirst NameSurnameFirst NameSurname
KobyAldersonLeeBibbyArcherAbbott
JackAndersonOllieClarkLeviBaker
OrlandoBaileyHarryClokeNoahBarry
NashBennettJackCummingsTeoBatten-Sanchez
RyderBlottByronDawsonCooperBeck
CodyBoyceLeonardoDi RussoWilloBennett
HaydenBurrowsAidenDurantDeclanBone
RyleyCanavanOwenEdwardsMaxBradley
RhysCarrickPaddyFitzgibbonNedBuckley
JettChurchillJakeGaleSunnyChapman
BeauCooperLeviGallagherSamuelElla
JuliosCostinAshtonGardnerRileyKippax
CooperCroftJeremyGisikKobeMcLoughlin
AceDaviesHarryGriffithsHeath Morley
NoahDe SimoneCharlieGrowcottFinnO'Donnell
JettahEliasonHunterHowardSergePopov
ZyeFraserMaxJacobsonHarveyPower
JuddJacksonJordanKaeslerKaiRobinson
KobeJorgensenSullivanLatchCruzRowe
LucasJoyceBrandonLowndesJarrahStar-Webb
CraigKellermanArchieMcDonaldFloydUsher
VasiliKilikasKyeMcIntyreLeviWalsham
TaytLangfordJacobMoirRyderWharton
LukaLeota-MansonKobeMundyJoelWillesee
LachlanManeRhysNeuss
TylerMoreyHunterNewitt
BlakeNikolajevicLucasPlatts
ChaseOrganLachlanRobinson
AsaiahRobinsonCallumSamuelson
DenzelRoweMacSeebeck
HaydenStewartJaydenStavrou
MaxVerstrekenJontySteele
AshtonWohlsenFinlayStevenson
JorjaiTriandos
FletcherVincent
NoahWalsh
HunterWeatherley
TysonWeavell
SamuelWhite
FynnWilkinson
OliverWinter

15s Males

North HUBSouth HUBNth Rivers HUB
First NameSurnameFirst NameSurnameFirst NameSurname
HaydanBellKaiAddinsallLachlanAdams
BlakeCooperArchieAtkinsonTalonChilcott
TysonDaleyKaiBrindleyThomasChilds
MemphisForsterKobie-EthanBurgess-JonesSlaterClarke
AngusGibsonCameronCamenzindKobiConnors
KlaeGreenLeviChristyNixonConrick
AlfieGreenCooperCotterJaxCornwall
JoshuaHallCooperEnglandJamesDouglas
AshtonHatchThomasEvendenPatrickEdwards
CharlieHendryZebedeeFarmerBenjaminGrimster
ReahnHenryZacFordEmileHalliday
JaksonKellyJacksonFrostLachlanHampson
DaneKovalikZacGaleRileyJohnson
XavierLalicArchieHarrisonWillJohnston
CameronLeeJackHobartOliverKearsey
JaydenMattersonHarrisonKingLawrenceKee
FletcherMcFarlaneJosephMckibbenJobeKeith
CooperMcGuinnessHarryNielsenEzekielLongbottom
OliverMelkeKyleO'BrienLawsonMactier
CooperThomasLukaPatsalisEthanMcDonald
BlakeThompsonLachlanPearceOllieRandell
JakeTurketoArchiePridmoreMylesRoberts
EwanWalkerKobeSkinnerNoahVan den driest
WilsonSlatteryHarveyVecht
Jasper SmithOliverWatters
RoccoSullivanKobyWillems
LachlanWalker
 

13s Females

North HUBSouth HUBNth Rivers HUB
First nameSurnameFirst nameSurnameFirst nameSurname
MadelynBockAvaBradleyEvieBarker
OsheyaAllenJessicaCosmanTayaBaxter
CiaraBerkeleyEllaCrampLaniEddywing
ScarlettBroadhurstMyaHarrisMintyHussey
MantellChevroletChloeHellingSiennaLobascher
AnnabelleClarkMiaHogarthCocoLoemker
KyraDavisonDarcyLaingEllieMcLoughlin
ZoeDelannoyMaggieLeaPippaO'Grady
BrookeEdwardsKianaMayMilaOpsenica
BellaFiskeCaeliMcGowanAlmaPaungreen
SiennaJamesonPiperMckenzieIndyPhelps
SophieKaoustosKirraleyMorrisSiennaShackell
EllieLenehamSummerMurrayAvaSheehan
Lilly-GraceReevesGraceNielsenAmeliaTopper
JadaSimondsMeekaPhelan
TahliaThompsonMeganRamsey
MiaVimpanyZaraSmall
SianahWatersKyraSpence
TahliaWilliamsOliviaSutherland
GeorgiaThorburn

14s Females

North HUBSouth HUBNth Rivers HUB
First nameSurnameFirst nameSurnameFirst nameSurname
RemmyBradleySienaAdamsonHarrietEllis
BellaGowingChloeAndersonSienaHoopmann
ShonaBerkeleyEllaBallantynePaigeJohnston
AllyMckenzieEleanorBaumanHarperJones
RubieNewmanEllaBoalStellaLindsay
AliceMannZoeCallenderCiaraMurphy
AvaCassarChloe*****ClancyNankivell
RubiWalkerGraceDaltonChilliOldham
RavenHanleyElizaDavenportArliTapsall-Stallan
MikaylaDormanRubyEatonMiaWalsham
ZahniQuenonSummerErcegTylahWhittington
DakotaParkinsonSummerEvans
WillowColeBronteFenech
AuroraPiazzaMacyFitzpatrick
ChloeBaines-LeviAnnabelleGibson
HarrietHoweLeilaHarris
CaitlinLandrigan
EmilyLeskiw
SiennaMyatt
TigerlilyNixon
RosieRoss
GraceStewart Hodgetts
MaddisonTyrrell
MadelineWatkins
TeaWeldon
StephanieWilliams

15s Females

North HUBSouth HUBNth Rivers HUB
First nameSurnameFirst nameSurnameFirst nameSurname
MaliaAdamsAllegraBandieraEveBradford-Smith
SarahBaileyAllieCameronCharlotteBrown
AlyssaBennettAsiaSingleIndigoCrichton
JoeleneBillettcharlicoughlanLayla Emmett
HarperBriggsCharlieHuntleyWrenHynes
EmmieChudleyCharlotteEdgeworthHannahJocumsen
KianaDavisonChloeTempletonErinLanyon
JadeGallagherDaisyLythgoSiennaLockwood
MikaylahGillespie-SeersDaisyLuhrsCharlieMcDonald
CleoneHalsallGraciePorterRubyMilligan
ArayahHanleyHannahBurdonIslaTill
ImogenHineHoweHarrietReignWalle
MegenLederhoseImogenCush
TatianaLockeIvyWindus
KieraMaynardJadeRadford
AmeliaPaffLillyAtherton
FaithReevesMaddisonRoser
DevenahSimunekMadelynJames
IllianaStilesOliviaBrown
EllaSwanPeonyMargetts
SageCrossley
SianiSymons
StephanieBrown
TobiSkalij
VioletA'Bell
WillowFredericks
 


Looking at names for the 2027, 2028 and 2029 AFLM drafts right here.

The U13's names were born when Gold Coast played its first AFL season.
 

13s Males

Nth Rivers HUB
First NameSurname
JackBrown
There's going to be a lot of interest in this young lad. An Ashcroft 2.0 situation but maybe we can convince the son of a triple premiership Lion to join us this time around. Funnily enough, we'll have a similar situation playing out the very next year with Kai Rischitelli becoming draft eligible for both QLD clubs. You can throw Harry Malceski in that boat as well as he'll be draft eligible for us and the Swans.

Jeff White's younger son Kai is also on that U13s list but it looks pretty likely that both he and Kalani are headed for the Dees.

Interesting to see the son of former Collingwood F/S pick Jason Cloke named in our U14s team as well. Jason only managed 76 AFL games for the Pies so his son Harry is not F/S tied to them and is open for us to draft.

Scotty Watters' younger son Oliver also gets a mention from our U15s side. Another one that's not F/S tied to any other club.

For those interested in the AFLW side of things, you'll notice Jonathan Brown's daughter Olivia, sister of Lucy Single (Asia) and sister of the Crossley brothers (Sage) all on that U15s list.

Looking at names for the 2027, 2028 and 2029 AFLM drafts right here.

The U13's names were born when Gold Coast played its first AFL season.
This is crucial for us. Having local talents in our team that don't remember a time without the Suns in the AFL legitimises the club in their eyes, instead of being viewed as an expansion side by older generations. Now we just need to win more often and they'll really want to play for us. Virtually all footy fans remember the teams that were good when they were younger and if we can instil that in the next generation then it'll go a long way to building a strong base of juniors and supporters.
 

(Log in to remove this ad.)

Funnily enough, we'll have a similar situation playing out the very next year with Kai Rischitelli becoming draft eligible for both QLD clubs. You can throw Harry Malceski in that boat as well as he'll be draft eligible for us and the Swans.


Wouldn't Kai and Harry be eligible for the 2031 AFLM Draft instead of 2030?
 
Further, Kai Addinsall's in there. (Beau's brother.)

Jimi Callinan another familiar name. (Possibly Jake's brother.)

A VFL/AFL player called Ross Growcott played in the '60's or '70's.
There's a Charlie Growcott here.

Interesting to note there's another Josh Hall on the SUNS' horizons.
 
Yes and I believe Jack Brown is eligible in 2030. That means he's been selected in our U13 team as a bottom ager.

Olivia Brown looks like a real talent too. Was playing U17s for Palm Beach last year at 13/14 years of age.


Be interesting to track their respective progresses.

Also, this tells me Jonathan and crew have moved back to Queensland.
 
Be interesting to track their respective progresses.

Also, this tells me Jonathan and crew have moved back to Queensland.
Yeah, they left Melbourne and moved back to the Gold Coast in April last year (source) after spending five years in Victoria. It's important to note that Browny's wife Kylie is a Gold Coaster herself and the couple lived together on the GC for most of his playing career. That means Jack and Olivia were actually born on the Gold Coast and have lived most of their lives here anyway. It was pretty well known locally at the time that they had a big property in Currumbin Valley and I think they returned to one of the GC Hinterland suburbs last year. COVID basically forced the AFL/media to allow personalities to do their job while living interstate so these days you can live in Queensland and still be heavily involved in the Vic media like Browny.

Even if neither of them end up playing for us, it's still a big positive to have someone like Jonathan Brown in and around the junior footy traps on the GC. We have no shortage of prominent footballers involved in local footy which is a good thing.
 
Not sure how many people are aware but it would appear Cairns native and academy draft hopeful Caleb Nancarrow has moved to the Gold Coast this year and has been assigned the Surfers Demons as his local club. Pretty interesting move for a player who had been on a scholarship at Scotch College and has spent the last three years living in Melbourne while also playing CTL footy for the Oakleigh Chargers.

I'd say Nanc is better off up here anyway as he'll get to train and play regularly with his Suns academy teammates instead of the weird hybrid of playing for us and Oakleigh he had last year that clearly wasn't working. Especially considering our academy program just delivered four first round picks. Hoping for the best with Nanc this season. Kid has serious raw talent and athleticism, just needs to be harnessed. I'd really like to see Harbrow take Caleb under his wing and help another indigenous talent from the Far North make it to the AFL.

 
An U18s academy training session took place on Wednesday and there were a few takeaways. Firstly, it looked like it was a smaller group of around 20ish broken up into two groups of 10ish players. Not sure if there was a reason for that but it certainly seemed like less players than the amount that would be involved in a normal session. Rhyce Shaw appeared to be running the session from the middle of the ground while the two groups were at either end.

Most of you will be excited to read the big takeaway was how impressive Lombard looked. There was a drill involving running, marking, kicking & handballing around the 50m arc and you could just see Lombard was a step above in virtually every aspect. He's incredibly quick and elusive with and without the ball in hand. A power athlete who can explode with speed out of nowhere and seemingly outrun anyone. Very good hand skills and didn't seem to fumble at all. His vertical leap was pretty impressive for a smaller guy as well. The talk of a top 10 draft bid for Leo is deserved IMO.

Nancarrow didn't appear to be taking part in the session which was disappointing. Overall the squad looked very young and you would expect that considering it's mostly made up of bottom agers this year. Anyone know when their first competitive match takes place?
 
An U18s academy training session took place on Wednesday and there were a few takeaways. Firstly, it looked like it was a smaller group of around 20ish broken up into two groups of 10ish players. Not sure if there was a reason for that but it certainly seemed like less players than the amount that would be involved in a normal session. Rhyce Shaw appeared to be running the session from the middle of the ground while the two groups were at either end.

Most of you will be excited to read the big takeaway was how impressive Lombard looked. There was a drill involving running, marking, kicking & handballing around the 50m arc and you could just see Lombard was a step above in virtually every aspect. He's incredibly quick and elusive with and without the ball in hand. A power athlete who can explode with speed out of nowhere and seemingly outrun anyone. Very good hand skills and didn't seem to fumble at all. His vertical leap was pretty impressive for a smaller guy as well. The talk of a top 10 draft bid for Leo is deserved IMO.

Nancarrow didn't appear to be taking part in the session which was disappointing. Overall the squad looked very young and you would expect that considering it's mostly made up of bottom agers this year. Anyone know when their first competitive match takes place?
You are really going to have to calm down on Lombard. He'll be pick 1 by the end of the year if you keep this up :p
 
An U18s academy training session took place on Wednesday and there were a few takeaways. Firstly, it looked like it was a smaller group of around 20ish broken up into two groups of 10ish players. Not sure if there was a reason for that but it certainly seemed like less players than the amount that would be involved in a normal session. Rhyce Shaw appeared to be running the session from the middle of the ground while the two groups were at either end.

Most of you will be excited to read the big takeaway was how impressive Lombard looked. There was a drill involving running, marking, kicking & handballing around the 50m arc and you could just see Lombard was a step above in virtually every aspect. He's incredibly quick and elusive with and without the ball in hand. A power athlete who can explode with speed out of nowhere and seemingly outrun anyone. Very good hand skills and didn't seem to fumble at all. His vertical leap was pretty impressive for a smaller guy as well. The talk of a top 10 draft bid for Leo is deserved IMO.

Nancarrow didn't appear to be taking part in the session which was disappointing. Overall the squad looked very young and you would expect that considering it's mostly made up of bottom agers this year. Anyone know when their first competitive match takes place?
I think there's a game on March 8th against Broadbeach - but not 100% sure.
 
Zeke and Leo are the ones to watch correct?
Not far from games now and Zeke and Leo are ones to watch definitely. The depth this year in the midfield is one to watch and leo will be in there. Zeke will probably play majority of the half back flank and wing. They played an intra club match the other week before the squad got picked and main standouts there were Beau Addisnal and Cooper Hynes for me. Beau is all class in the contest and has silky skills and Cooper is one to watch for me. He is 2006 born and looks to be playing a big part in the academy’s midfield this year. One to watch potentially.
 
Another U18 academy training session took place last night in the wet weather. The group was much bigger this time and looked like the standard 30ish players. They were broken into three groups of 10ish players to run drills in different parts of the ground. One triangular kick-to-kick drill involved an agility pole that the player would weave around before kicking the ball to a teammate 20-30 metres away and running to the next point of the triangular where they would receive the ball. Fair to say Lombard was the standout in this drill and once again looked incredibly fast and elusive while getting around the agility pole before hitting his teammate lace out every time with the exception of one kick that landed short. At the end of the drill he also sprinted free, kicked a snap goal and looked very impressive while doing so.

Caleb Nancarrow took part in this training session as well. Not sure if he's grown since last year but he appeared to be the second tallest player in his group. In one drill they had around six agility poles scattered throughout the forward 50 and each forward would start where the agility poles were before trying to run leads for an inside 50 entry. Not sure if it was just because it was one of his first training sessions with the group but Nanc seemed a little lost out there when trying to structure up and run leads inside the forward 50. He appeared to have some speed for a taller lad and was there to support his teammates when they were running in for goal, but he wasn't personally leading as well as he probably could/should have. Hopefully more time with his teammates will help address this.
 

Remove this Banner Ad

Academy: Gold Coast SUNS Gun Factory

Remove this Banner Ad

Back
Top