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.
SUNS Academy U18M Final Squad Selection
The Gold Coast SUNS Academy is happy to announce the final squad for the U18 males.www.goldcoastfc.com.au
Skilful player - great kick and when he was younger was considered one of the best on the GC. I think he also captained teams in his U13 and U14 years.
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.
Zeke and Leo are the ones to watch correct?SUNS Academy U18M Final Squad Selection
The Gold Coast SUNS Academy is happy to announce the final squad for the U18 males.
I'd add Addinsall, Dylan Patterson and Jai Murray off my head - but still more will emerge over the next two seasons. This year it's pretty well Leo unless somebody really explodes. Great time to be a Suns fan if you enjoy watching the kids develop.
I've never seen him play but there's a bit of buzz around Coulson - who was injured all of last year. Put a ? by his name.
You're right. Despite competing in the U16 national champs last year, both Lockett and Gray aren't bottom agers this year.
2024 SUNS ACADEMY HUB SQUAD ANNOUNCMENT
The 2024 SUNS Academy Gold Coast and Northern Rivers HUB squads have been announced, featuring many of the zones most promising 13–15-year-old male and female footballers.
I’m not hoping for much. Just the next Gary Ablett Jr
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.
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.
Yes and I believe Jack Brown is eligible in 2030. That means he's been selected in our U13 team as a bottom ager.
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.
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
I think there's a game on March 8th against Broadbeach - but not 100% sure.
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.
