Academy: Gold Coast SUNS Gun Factory

[SUN OF A GUN]

Kicking a bag of 11 is a great feat, but it was in a game that was won by 174 points....

A better indication of his prowess will be in the upcoming 2 game series with the Lions U17 academy.


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

 

[GC2015]

Kicking a bag of 11 is a great feat, but it was in a game that was won by 174 points....

A better indication of his prowess will be in the upcoming 2 game series with the Lions U17 academy.

For what it's worth, he kicked another three goals in Labrador's reserves win today. That's 17 goals in three weeks.

Hopefully he can continue that form in the U17s games against the Lions.

 

[GC2015]

Interesting anecdote. Former beloved Titans player Mark Minichiello has a son named Luca Minichiello who has been playing junior Aussie rules for the Burleigh Bombers over the last two years. Still very early days but it would be an interesting local story if he ends up being good enough for us to draft him after his father carved out a very successful 397 game professional rugby league career for the Roosters, Rabbitohs, Titans and Hull in the UK. FYI Mark only retired from pro rugby league in 2019 and moved back to Australia that year after a late career in the UK. Unsurprisingly the Minichiello family settled on the Gold Coast upon their return to Australia.

2002 Brisbane premiership player Aaron Shattock also has a son named Mitchell Shattock playing for Labrador. Also very early days but obviously has a chance he'll be good enough given his family connections. Aaron did not playing 100 games for either Brisbane or Port Adelaide so we're clear to draft his son Mitch without fear of losing him via the father-son rule (Will Ashcroft style).

 

[Mt Isa Mustang]

Interesting anecdote. Former beloved Titans player Mark Minichiello has a son named Luca Minichiello who has been playing junior Aussie rules for the Burleigh Bombers over the last two years. Still very early days but it would be an interesting local story if he ends up being good enough for us to draft him after his father carved out a very successful 397 game professional rugby league career for the Roosters, Rabbitohs, Titans and Hull in the UK. FYI Mark only retired from pro rugby league in 2019 and moved back to Australia that year after a late career in the UK. Unsurprisingly the Minichiello family settled on the Gold Coast upon their return to Australia.

2002 Brisbane premiership player Aaron Shattock also has a son named Mitchell Shattock playing for Labrador. Also very early days but obviously has a chance he'll be good enough given his family connections. Aaron did not playing 100 games for either Brisbane or Port Adelaide so we're clear to draft his son Mitch without fear of losing him via the father-son rule (Will Ashcroft style).

Pretty sure Aaron Shattock originally played for Labrador so interesting to see his son there

 

[Goodguy72]

Interesting anecdote. Former beloved Titans player Mark Minichiello has a son named Luca Minichiello who has been playing junior Aussie rules for the Burleigh Bombers over the last two years. Still very early days but it would be an interesting local story if he ends up being good enough for us to draft him after his father carved out a very successful 397 game professional rugby league career for the Roosters, Rabbitohs, Titans and Hull in the UK. FYI Mark only retired from pro rugby league in 2019 and moved back to Australia that year after a late career in the UK. Unsurprisingly the Minichiello family settled on the Gold Coast upon their return to Australia.

2002 Brisbane premiership player Aaron Shattock also has a son named Mitchell Shattock playing for Labrador. Also very early days but obviously has a chance he'll be good enough given his family connections. Aaron did not playing 100 games for either Brisbane or Port Adelaide so we're clear to draft his son Mitch without fear of losing him via the father-son rule (Will Ashcroft style).

Wasn't Cam Smith spotted doing junior goal umpiring at Metricon on the weekend , he must have an AFL playing kid

 

[GC2015]

Pretty sure Aaron Shattock originally played for Labrador so interesting to see his son there

A quick Google search suggests Aaron Shattock is a South Australian junior from Woodville West Torrens but signed on with Labrador post-AFL career after Port Adelaide delisted him towards the end of 2006. Seems he's been with Labrador ever since as a player in the early years and a coach/assistant coach in more recent years. His two highlights at Labrador would have to be captaining the club to its first ever top level QAFL grand final in 2010 (which they lost) and head coaching the club to a (losing) QAFL grand final in 2017. Now his son Mitch Shattock has obviously continued the family name at Labrador so hopefully he's better than his old man and we have a superstar on our hands in the future.

Wasn't Cam Smith spotted doing junior goal umpiring at Metricon on the weekend , he must have an AFL playing kid

That's right. Cam Smith's son, Jasper Smith, played Auskick in Melbourne last year and it's probably fair to assume he has continued with Aussie rules now that the Smith family lives on the Gold Coast. In fact, Jasper Smith and Luca Minichiello will become draft eligible around the same time so that would be a pretty cool story if we drafted two sons of notable rugby league players in the same draft class. Reminds me of the Kieran Jack story with the Swans. I guess that's what you get on the Gold Coast. The GC isn't overly influenced one way or another when it comes to the a particular preferred sport so our junior athletes get the opportunity to play everything growing up.


There's also more famous names on the Gold Coast that are closer to the draft age and might be worth keeping an eye on.

• Zai Millane (son of Darren Millane) is playing U16s for Burleigh this year. Zai is obviously father-son eligible for Collingwood and is listed in our U15s academy team for 2021 so he obviously has skill. He will become draft eligible in 2024.
• Joe Kennedy, son of our former high performance manager Matt Kennedy, is also in our U15s academy team this year. Joe is father-son eligible for Brisbane as well as academy eligible for us.
• Oliver Francou, son of our current assistant coach Josh Francou, is in our U15s team this year and is playing U16s footy for Burleigh. Obviously is father-son eligible for Port Adelaide as well as academy eligible for us. I would have mentioned his older brother Will too but he doesn't fulfil the residency requirements to be academy eligible for us. However, the younger brother (Ben) will be academy eligible for us so two out of three isn't bad.
• Kalani White, son of former number 1 pick Jeff White, is listed in our U14s academy team this year. Kalani is academy eligible for us as well as father-son eligible for Melbourne.
• Plugger's other nephew Taj Lockett is in our U15s academy team this year as well. He is not father-son eligible for any clubs.

 

[GC2015]

Wasn't Cam Smith spotted doing junior goal umpiring at Metricon on the weekend , he must have an AFL playing kid

But they weren’t the only famous faces in the action, rugby league legend Cameron Smith was on Dad duty, goal umpiring for his daughter Matilda’s Palm Beach Currumbin match against Burleigh.

Presumably this means both Matilda Smith and Jasper Smith will play Aussie rules for Palm Beach Currumbin.

 

[Mt Isa Mustang]

A quick Google search suggests Aaron Shattock is a South Australian junior from Woodville West Torrens but signed on with Labrador post-AFL career after Port Adelaide delisted him towards the end of 2006. Seems he's been with Labrador ever since as a player in the early years and a coach/assistant coach in more recent years. His two highlights at Labrador would have to be captaining the club to its first ever top level QAFL grand final in 2010 (which they lost) and head coaching the club to a (losing) QAFL grand final in 2017. Now his son Mitch Shattock has obviously continued the family name at Labrador so hopefully he's better than his old man and we have a superstar on our hands in the future.

• Zai Millane (son of Darren Millane) is playing U16s for Burleigh this year. Zai is obviously father-son eligible for Collingwood and is listed in our U15s academy team for 2021 so he obviously has skill. He will become draft eligible in 2024.

Cheers for that info on Shattock, yeah didn't bother to research just remembered the connection with Labrador.

May be i'm missing something but Darren Millaine died in 1991 (30 years ago) - how does he have a 15 year old son?

 

[Goodguy72]

Cheers for that info on Shattock, yeah didn't bother to research just remembered the connection with Labrador.

May be i'm missing something but Darren Millaine died in 1991 (30 years ago) - how does he have a 15 year old son?

Frozen embryo perhaps

 

[Mt Isa Mustang]

Frozen embryo perhaps

Well yeah, possibly.

Would be a bit weird for his wife to go through the IVF process 15 years after he died.
Also a little unusual for him to have started an IVF at age 26

Was he even married?


Feel like there is an error here

 

[Choppers]

Well yeah, possibly.

Would be a bit weird for his wife to go through the IVF process 15 years after he died.
Also a little unusual for him to have started an IVF at age 26

Was he even married?


Feel like there is an error here

I've had nothing better to do today, so tried to unravel the mystery, and I've come up with this......these are only assumptions, not facts.

Zai Millane is Donna Louise Millane's son......prior to 2008, Donna Louise was known as Donna Louise Bangay.....and she changed her surname to Millane at that time.

Maybe Donna is Darren's sister, got married to Mr. Bangay, had Zai, divorced and reverted to her maiden name. This would make Zai to be Darren's nephew...


EDIT: I have since been able to confirm that Zai is indeed Darren's nephew......

 

[Jen2310]

Another Milane. Darren would have been proud.

 

[GC2015]

Apologies for all the confusion. Zai Millane is of course Darren's nephew which is probably better news for us considering we won't have to compete with the Pies for his commitment, just like how we won't have to compete with the Swans or Saints for Plugger's nephews. Reminds me of Port Adelaide supporters getting mad about Byron Pickett's nephew (Kysaiah Pickett) tearing it up for the Dees and Port fans somehow thinking he should be playing for them. I've already seen a few Swans supporters suggest Jye Lockett should play for them but that really makes no sense when you stop and think about it. Even if it did make sense, we still retain the right to academy draft him as a Gold Coast junior like Nick Blakey did when he turned down the father-son offers from the Lions and Roos to stay with the Swans.

We clearly have a lot of children of talented sportspeople living on the Gold Coast and playing junior footy so you just hope our academy system is being run well because talent isn't going to be a problem for us. Our biggest issue will likely be whether we can nurture that talent correctly.

 

[Mt Isa Mustang]

I've had nothing better to do today, so tried to unravel the mystery, and I've come up with this......these are only assumptions, not facts.

Zai Millane is Donna Louise Millane's son......prior to 2008, Donna Louise was known as Donna Louise Bangay.....and she changed her surname to Millane at that time.

Maybe Donna is Darren's sister, got married to Mr. Bangay, had Zai, divorced and reverted to her maiden name. This would make Zai to be Darren's nephew...


EDIT: I have since been able to confirm that Zai is indeed Darren's nephew......

Thanks Choppers, very insightful!

Not surprising to see so many former AFL stars settled on the Gold Coast.

 

[SUN OF A GUN]

A quick Google search suggests Aaron Shattock is a South Australian junior from Woodville West Torrens but signed on with Labrador post-AFL career after Port Adelaide delisted him towards the end of 2006. Seems he's been with Labrador ever since as a player in the early years and a coach/assistant coach in more recent years. His two highlights at Labrador would have to be captaining the club to its first ever top level QAFL grand final in 2010 (which they lost) and head coaching the club to a (losing) QAFL grand final in 2017. Now his son Mitch Shattock has obviously continued the family name at Labrador so hopefully he's better than his old man and we have a superstar on our hands in the future.


That's right. Cam Smith's son, Jasper Smith, played Auskick in Melbourne last year and it's probably fair to assume he has continued with Aussie rules now that the Smith family lives on the Gold Coast. In fact, Jasper Smith and Luca Minichiello will become draft eligible around the same time so that would be a pretty cool story if we drafted two sons of notable rugby league players in the same draft class. Reminds me of the Kieran Jack story with the Swans. I guess that's what you get on the Gold Coast. The GC isn't overly influenced one way or another when it comes to the a particular preferred sport so our junior athletes get the opportunity to play everything growing up.


There's also more famous names on the Gold Coast that are closer to the draft age and might be worth keeping an eye on.

• Zai Millane (son of Darren Millane) is playing U16s for Burleigh this year. Zai is obviously father-son eligible for Collingwood and is listed in our U15s academy team for 2021 so he obviously has skill. He will become draft eligible in 2024.
• Joe Kennedy, son of our former high performance manager Matt Kennedy, is also in our U15s academy team this year. Joe is father-son eligible for Brisbane as well as academy eligible for us.
• Oliver Francou, son of our current assistant coach Josh Francou, is in our U15s team this year and is playing U16s footy for Burleigh. Obviously is father-son eligible for Port Adelaide as well as academy eligible for us. I would have mentioned his older brother Will too but he doesn't fulfil the residency requirements to be academy eligible for us. However, the younger brother (Ben) will be academy eligible for us so two out of three isn't bad.
• Kalani White, son of former number 1 pick Jeff White, is listed in our U14s academy team this year. Kalani is academy eligible for us as well as father-son eligible for Melbourne.
• Plugger's other nephew Taj Lockett is in our U15s academy team this year as well. He is not father-son eligible for any clubs.

Has Will Francou moved away from the Coast? Was a part of the Academy in the past, but did not take part in the recent U17 Academy series?


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

 

[GC2015]

So our U19s academy team plays the Lions U19s today and our U17s academy team playing the Lions U17s on Sunday. Here is the live stream to the U17s game:




The final U17s team was also announced a few weeks ago:

• Kaleb Baines (Southport/Broadbeach)
• Marlin Corbett (Byron Bay/Surfers Paradise)
• Reagan Crees (Port Douglas)
• Xavier Cameron (Hermit Park)
• Taine Dawson (Broadbeach)
• Mitchell Day (Palm Beach Currumbin)
• Jaxon Denny (Broadbeach)
• Jared Eckersley (Coomera/Broadbeach)
• Lawsen Ford (Thuringowa)
• Levi Fyffe (Pacific Pines)
• Will Graham (Palm Beach Currumbin) Brother of Caleb
• Cody Harrington (Carrara/Broadbeach)
• Ryan King (Labrador/Pacific Pines)
• Campbell Lake (Ormeau/Southport)
• Louie McLennan (Palm Beach Currumbin) Brother of Jez
• Kyle McNamara (Pacific Pines/Labrador)
• Sam Mercer (Southport/Labrador)
• Daniel Murtha (Centrals Trinity Beach)
• Cody Nieass (Surfers Paradise)
• Cooper Parkes (Burleigh)
• Kye Reynoldson (Broadbeach)
• Jake Rogers (Broadbeach)
• Lachlan Sheppard (Southport)
• Flynn Sippel (Southport/Surfers Paradise)
• Ezekiel Stortenbeker (Burleigh)
• Joshrayahn Tilmouth (Cairns City)
• Leo Trueman (Southport/Labrador)
• Josh Young (Surfers Paradise)
• Jed Walter (Palm Beach Currumbin)
• Joshua Zanker-Close (Ormeau/Broadbeach)

In case you don't know, most of the players above will become draft eligible for us next year. Keep an eye on Josh Tilmouth. Exciting prospect from the Far North who played for the Cairns City seniors in the AFL Cairns competition last weekend and kicked three goals on debut:

Has Will Francou moved away from the Coast? Was a part of the Academy in the past, but did not take part in the recent U17 Academy series?

North Adelaide - SANFL

sanfl.com.au

Looks like Will is playing U18s for North Adelaide this year. Perhaps he knew this was the better move for his chances of getting drafted considering he was never going to be academy eligible for us, unlike his two younger brothers Oliver (2023) and Ben (2024). Obviously there's the sentimental factor with North Adelaide being his father's junior club as well and he'd probably be more inclined to stay on the GC if there was the possibility of him getting academy drafted to us but since that's not the case I guess he's trying his hand at a higher level of junior footy in South Australia. Good luck to him but it's almost June and he's still playing at the U18s level in the SANFL and most kids that get drafted are playing in the SANFL seniors by this stage in their draft year. It'd be nice if he slipped through to us with a late national/rookie draft pick because that obviously increases our chances of recruiting his two younger brothers but he's probably not up to the standard right now considering he's playing SANFL U18s and it's entirely possible he doesn't get drafted at all this year.

 

[Mt Isa Mustang]

That Tilmouth fella looks exciting.

2 Townville and 2 Cairns players amongst the squad

 

[Jen2310]

 

[SUN OF A GUN]

13 Suns Academy boys selected in the QLD U17 squad, including 2 bottom age lads.

Two Lions V Suns U17 games were played as a selection pathway for the Qld squad.

The Lions took out the game on Sunday at Aspley, and the Suns taking out last nights game on Metricon.

Best across the two games IMO for Suns: Lake, Fyffe, Dawson, Young, Zanker-Close.

2021 Queensland State U17 male squad announced - AFL Queensland

31 rising stars have been named in the Queensland State U17 squad to compete at the upcoming NAB AFL National U17 Championships.

www.aflq.com.au

Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

 

[Choppers]

13 Suns Academy boys selected in the QLD U17 squad, including 2 bottom age lads.

Two Lions V Suns U17 games were played as a selection pathway for the Qld squad.

The Lions took out the game on Sunday at Aspley, and the Suns taking out last nights game on Metricon.

Best across the two games IMO for Suns: Lake, Fyffe, Dawson, Young, Zanker-Close.

2021 Queensland State U17 male squad announced - AFL Queensland

31 rising stars have been named in the Queensland State U17 squad to compete at the upcoming NAB AFL National U17 Championships.

www.aflq.com.au

Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

Great job, Sam Virgo......well done

 

[SUN OF A GUN]

So our U19s academy team plays the Lions U19s today and our U17s academy team playing the Lions U17s on Sunday. Here is the live stream to the U17s game:




The final U17s team was also announced a few weeks ago:

• Kaleb Baines (Southport/Broadbeach)
• Marlin Corbett (Byron Bay/Surfers Paradise)
• Reagan Crees (Port Douglas)
• Xavier Cameron (Hermit Park)
• Taine Dawson (Broadbeach)
• Mitchell Day (Palm Beach Currumbin)
• Jaxon Denny (Broadbeach)
• Jared Eckersley (Coomera/Broadbeach)
• Lawsen Ford (Thuringowa)
• Levi Fyffe (Pacific Pines)
• Will Graham (Palm Beach Currumbin) Brother of Caleb
• Cody Harrington (Carrara/Broadbeach)
• Ryan King (Labrador/Pacific Pines)
• Campbell Lake (Ormeau/Southport)
• Louie McLennan (Palm Beach Currumbin) Brother of Jez
• Kyle McNamara (Pacific Pines/Labrador)
• Sam Mercer (Southport/Labrador)
• Daniel Murtha (Centrals Trinity Beach)
• Cody Nieass (Surfers Paradise)
• Cooper Parkes (Burleigh)
• Kye Reynoldson (Broadbeach)
• Jake Rogers (Broadbeach)
• Lachlan Sheppard (Southport)
• Flynn Sippel (Southport/Surfers Paradise)
• Ezekiel Stortenbeker (Burleigh)
• Joshrayahn Tilmouth (Cairns City)
• Leo Trueman (Southport/Labrador)
• Josh Young (Surfers Paradise)
• Jed Walter (Palm Beach Currumbin)
• Joshua Zanker-Close (Ormeau/Broadbeach)

In case you don't know, most of the players above will become draft eligible for us next year. Keep an eye on Josh Tilmouth. Exciting prospect from the Far North who played for the Cairns City seniors in the AFL Cairns competition last weekend and kicked three goals on debut:

North Adelaide - SANFL

sanfl.com.au

Looks like Will is playing U18s for North Adelaide this year. Perhaps he knew this was the better move for his chances of getting drafted considering he was never going to be academy eligible for us, unlike his two younger brothers Oliver (2023) and Ben (2024). Obviously there's the sentimental factor with North Adelaide being his father's junior club as well and he'd probably be more inclined to stay on the GC if there was the possibility of him getting academy drafted to us but since that's not the case I guess he's trying his hand at a higher level of junior footy in South Australia. Good luck to him but it's almost June and he's still playing at the U18s level in the SANFL and most kids that get drafted are playing in the SANFL seniors by this stage in their draft year. It'd be nice if he slipped through to us with a late national/rookie draft pick because that obviously increases our chances of recruiting his two younger brothers but he's probably not up to the standard right now considering he's playing SANFL U18s and it's entirely possible he doesn't get drafted at all this year.

Looks like Josh is following Will back to SA at the end of the season....

Assistant Coach Josh Francou to depart SUNS at end of 2021 AFL Season

Gold Coast SUNS assistant coach Josh Francou has informed the club of his desire to relocate to Adelaide for family reasons at the end of the 2021.

www.goldcoastfc.com.au

Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

 

[Jen2310]

Allies squad

Jack Johnston (Suns Academy)
Brinn Little (Suns Academy)
Austin Harris (Suns Academy)
Bodhi Uwland (Suns Academy)
Max Pescud (Suns Academy)
Bailey Reeves (Suns Academy)
Will Bella (Suns Academy)
Thomas Hofert (Suns Academy)

Academy hot prospect named in talent-stacked Allies squad

The 39-man Allies squad for this year's NAB AFL Under-19 Championships has been revealed

www.afl.com.au

 

[Mt Isa Mustang]

Allies squad

Jack Johnston (Suns Academy)
Brinn Little (Suns Academy)
Austin Harris (Suns Academy)
Bodhi Uwland (Suns Academy)
Max Pescud (Suns Academy)
Bailey Reeves (Suns Academy)
Will Bella (Suns Academy)
Thomas Hofert (Suns Academy)

Academy hot prospect named in talent-stacked Allies squad

The 39-man Allies squad for this year's NAB AFL Under-19 Championships has been revealed

www.afl.com.au

Bodhi Uwland played very well against Sydney on the weekend. Don't think he'll make it because doesn't look athletic enough for a small fella but is really solid.

 

[eDPS]

Bodhi Uwland played very well against Sydney on the weekend. Don't think he'll make it because doesn't look athletic enough for a small fella but is really solid.

He has a very good leap which he showed in a practise match against Brisbane, watch from 2.16.40

 

[Mt Isa Mustang]

He has a very good leap which he showed in a practise match against Brisbane, watch from 2.16.40

Maybe he's just playing a bit within himself in the VFL. Not seen that in the few games I've watched this year.
He certainly plays with strength.