Gold Coast SUNS Academy

Matchu

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I was thinking about this the other day and figured someone like Mr Bods might be interested. One advantage Aussie rules has on the Gold Coast is a lack of perceived class divide with another sport. Rugby league is generally considered a working class game whereas rugby union is considered an elitist game. This is why a school like Keebra Park plays (and excels) in rugby league and another school like TSS plays rugby union, despite both schools being based in the Gold Coast suburb of Southport.

This isn't an issue for Australian rules football because there is no upper/lower class alternative. Last year we saw Jack Bowes make his way on to the Gold Coast list via private school St Augustine's in Cairns. This year we'll see Brayden Crossley getting drafted to the Suns from PBC state high and next year we'll (most likely) see Bailey Scott drafted out of a private school called St Andrews. This has been the case for decades with Gold Coast private school boys Nick Riewoldt (All Saints), Kurt Tippett (All Saints) and Clark Keating (TSS) mixing it with state school boys Dayne Beams (PBC), Daniel Merrett (Benowa) and Marcus Ashcroft (Merrimac). Those are just a few examples.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that Aussie rules doesn't have to deal with the class divide that hinders recruitment in the two rugby codes. I feel this is quite a big advantage for the Suns at the junior level because school kids in Brisbane and Sydney will experience more social pressure from their school, peers and family to pick a code that suits their socioeconomic background.
 

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SunnerSS

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I was thinking about this the other day and figured someone like Mr Bods next year we'll (most likely) see Bailey Scott drafted out of a private school called St Andrews.
This is awesome you've just blown my mind.
I went to St Andrews from 96-03 a small school when I was there and lacking any sort of arts or sports programs. To think that school has come to a point of producing a potentially elite athlete. How old is he 17? I wonder how long he has been there for. In my final year of study I was asked by the P.E teacher to be an assistant coach for the newly developed yr7 afl team instead of playing soccer with my fellow class mates. I don't think I coached him though. That would make him 26.

Anyway sorry this post got off topic.
 

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I was thinking about this the other day and figured someone like Mr Bods might be interested. One advantage Aussie rules has on the Gold Coast is a lack of perceived class divide with another sport. Rugby league is generally considered a working class game whereas rugby union is considered an elitist game. This is why a school like Keebra Park plays (and excels) in rugby league and another school like TSS plays rugby union, despite both schools being based in the Gold Coast suburb of Southport.

This isn't an issue for Australian rules football because there is no upper/lower class alternative. Last year we saw Jack Bowes make his way on to the Gold Coast list via private school St Augustine's in Cairns. This year we'll see Brayden Crossley getting drafted to the Suns from PBC state high and next year we'll (most likely) see Bailey Scott drafted out of a private school called St Andrews. This has been the case for decades with Gold Coast private school boys Nick Riewoldt (All Saints), Kurt Tippett (All Saints) and Clark Keating (TSS) mixing it with state school boys Dayne Beams (PBC), Daniel Merrett (Benowa) and Marcus Ashcroft (Merrimac). Those are just a few examples.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that Aussie rules doesn't have to deal with the class divide that hinders recruitment in the two rugby codes. I feel this is quite a big advantage for the Suns at the junior level because school kids in Brisbane and Sydney will experience more social pressure from their school, peers and family to pick a code that suits their socioeconomic background.
Gps schools only starting to play Aussie rules with not all schools electing to play in the league, would be good to get a few more playing.
 

Matchu

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This is awesome you've just blown my mind.
I went to St Andrews from 96-03 a small school when I was there and lacking any sort of arts or sports programs. To think that school has come to a point of producing a potentially elite athlete. How old is he 17? I wonder how long he has been there for. In my final year of study I was asked by the P.E teacher to be an assistant coach for the newly developed yr7 afl team instead of playing soccer with my fellow class mates. I don't think I coached him though. That would make him 26.

Anyway sorry this post got off topic.
I don't think it's off topic at all. Schools have a huge impact on which sport a child decides to pursue. If I'm not mistaken, St Andrews is the southern-most private school (that offers high school years) north of the Tweed so they are competing for the same catchment area as state schools like PBC and Elanora. Would Bailey Scott be better off transferring to PBC? Probably in terms of footy but there are obviously other factors at play when you talk about education. To answer your question, he's draft eligible next year so I'd say he's either about to graduate or will be finishing up next year.

You talk about a newly developed AFL team in your final year and I think you've touched on an interesting point. A lot of private schools on the Gold Coast are still very young (less than 40 years old in most cases) and don't have the traditions of their Brisbane counterparts. The GPS interschool sport competition in Brisbane is over 100 years old and is famous for producing rugby union players. Most kids that attend those elite schools are encouraged to play union over any other sport.

Those expectations don't exist for private schools on the Gold Coast (outside of TSS). Kids are free to play whatever they like and sports excellence programs are really only in their infancy so there is little pressure to take up the preferred sport of that school. This is where I think the Suns/AFL should really step in offer to fund goal posts and whatever else is necessary to at least get the kids at these schools trying our great game. I think there was a poster on here that previously stated Emmanuel College (private school) had removed their soccer nets and replaced them AFL posts so it's already happening.

Gps schools only starting to play Aussie rules with not all schools electing to play in the league, would be good to get a few more playing.
It's a completely different kettle of fish in Brisbane. The tradition associated with GPS schools and preferring to play rugby union is strong. It will be very hard to break. But hey, that's for the Lions to worry about.
 

Matchu

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Good to see two more GC academy players ending up on the Suns list tonight. This takes the total number of locals on the list to 10 (currently 25% of the list).

Jack Bowes - Cairns
Brayden Crossley - Labrador
Jarrod Harbrow - South Cairns
Jesse Joyce - Palm Beach Currumbin
Connor Nutting - Broadbeach
Brad Scheer - Palm Beach Currumbin
Alex Sexton - Springwood/Redland
Max Spencer - Palm Beach Currumbin
Rory Thompson - Southport
Lachie Weller - Broadbeach/Southport

It's also possible the Suns will pick up more locals in the rookie draft on Monday and looking ahead to 2018 where it seems extremely likely both Bailey Scott (Broadbeach) and Jacob Heron (Cairns) will be picked up, it's not beyond reason to suggest more than 30% of the Gold Coast list will be made up of locals in the very near future. It bodes well for the future of the club.
 

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Good to see two more GC academy players ending up on the Suns list tonight. This takes the total number of locals on the list to 10 (currently 25% of the list).

Jack Bowes - Cairns
Brayden Crossley - Labrador
Jarrod Harbrow - South Cairns
Jesse Joyce - Palm Beach Currumbin
Connor Nutting - Broadbeach
Brad Scheer - Palm Beach Currumbin
Alex Sexton - Springwood/Redland
Max Spencer - Palm Beach Currumbin
Rory Thompson - Southport
Lachie Weller - Broadbeach/Southport

It's also possible the Suns will pick up more locals in the rookie draft on Monday and looking ahead to 2018 where it seems extremely likely both Bailey Scott (Broadbeach) and Jacob Heron (Cairns) will be picked up, it's not beyond reason to suggest more than 30% of the Gold Coast list will be made up of locals in the very near future. It bodes well for the future of the club.
Correction Matchu - Crossley is yet another Palm Beach Currumbin.
Think Scott and Caleb Graham (Cairns) (Palm Beach Currumbin) are who you are thinking about for next year...
 
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Matchu

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Correction Matchu - Crossley is another Palm Beach Currumbin.
I know Crossley attended PBC High but my understanding was he began playing footy at Burleigh and then switched to Labrador in 2016 where he played reserves for them. Then this year he split his games between rep footy and NEAFL matches for the Suns reserves and Southport. Does anyone know if Crossley ever actually played for the PBC Lions?
 

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I know Crossley attended PBC High but my understanding was he began playing footy at Burleigh and then switched to Labrador in 2016 where he played reserves for them. Then this year he split his games between rep footy and NEAFL matches for the Suns reserves and Southport. Does anyone know if Crossley ever actually played for the PBC Lions?
Fine point - he never played for them as he was not allowed by the Suns and the National AFL Academy. He's a registered player and would have played if allowed.
Reports are he was mighty pissed when Nutting was allowed to play finals for Broadbeach and he couldn't for Palm Beach - obviously decisions had been made prior to then.
Was announced as a Palm Beach product upon being drafted tonight. (Probably more in recognition of his school background)
 
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Matchu

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Fine point - he never played for them as he was not allowed by the Suns and the National AFL Academy. He's a registered player and would have played if allowed.
Reports are he was mighty pissed when Nutting was allowed to play finals for Broadbeach and he couldn't for Palm Beach - obviously decisions had been made prior to then.
Was announced as a Palm Beach product upon being drafted tonight.
I'll take your word for it. He must have switched QAFL clubs in 2017 because I know he was definitely playing for Labrador in 2016.

So that means four of the ten locals on Gold Coast's list are Palm Beach boys. Must be something in the water (or Currumbin Creek), right Mr Bods?
 

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I'll take your word for it. He must have switched QAFL clubs in 2017 because I know he was definitely playing for Labrador in 2016.

So that means four of the ten locals on Gold Coast's list are Palm Beach boys. Must be something in the water (or Currumbin Creek), right Mr Bods?
Correct - note have edited my last post.
Crossley signed to play for Palm Beach for 2017. More as a recognition for the School I think. Definitely a Burleigh FC junior - but played a lot of PBC school football with Joyce, Scheer and Spencer.
 

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Matchu

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Correct - note have edited my last post.
Crossley signed to play for Palm Beach for 2017. More as a recognition for the School I think. Definitely a Burleigh FC junior - but played a lot of PBC school football with Joyce, Scheer and Spencer.
If the AFL announced him as a Palm Beach Currumbin player upon being drafted then I won't argue the minor details. He would have spent a lot of time running around Salk Oval so he's probably considered as much a PBC junior as anyone else.

Round of applause for PBC... again.
 

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If the AFL announced him as a Palm Beach Currumbin player upon being drafted then I won't argue the minor details. He would have spent a lot of time running around Salk Oval so he's probably considered as much a PBC junior as anyone else.

Round of applause for PBC... again.
Is s palmy local and has played with palmy , has been all over the place due to his dad coaching Burleigh , but he is another to come out of the excellence program at PBC , that is 4 on our list could be 5 next year.


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I'll take your word for it. He must have switched QAFL clubs in 2017 because I know he was definitely playing for Labrador in 2016.

So that means four of the ten locals on Gold Coast's list are Palm Beach boys. Must be something in the water (or Currumbin Creek), right Mr Bods?
Had a swim in there about an hour ago and I feel like I could run through a brick wall now
 
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Is s palmy local and has played with palmy , has been all over the place due to his dad coaching Burleigh , but he is another to come out of the excellence program at PBC , that is 4 on our list could be 5 next year.


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1 definite... but like this year, 2-3 others that will be thereabouts.
 

Matchu

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1 definite... but like this year, 2-3 others that will be thereabouts.
What's stopping the Suns from announcing that they've rookie drafted other academy players? If they have pre-rookie draft access then why not just announce it now? Unless I'm missing something, it might suggest no other academy players will be picked up by the Suns this year.
 
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What's stopping the Suns from announcing that they've rookie drafted other academy players? If they have pre-rookie draft access then why not just announce it now? Unless I'm missing something, it might suggest no other academy players will be picked up by the Suns this year.
Because the preselection is for rookies I believe. There is the preseason draft before that which teams I guess could pick them and the Suns then can get priority if that happens. My guesswork there from this...

A club can pre-select an eligible player as a Category A rookie between the Pre-Season and Rookie Drafts (with the player’s consent) provided the player had nominated for but was not selected by another club at either the National or Pre-Season Drafts. In that case, the relevant club would forfeit its last available selection in the Rookie Draft to take the player.
 

Matchu

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Because the preselection is for rookies I believe. There is the preseason draft before that which teams I guess could pick them and the Suns then can get priority if that happens. My guesswork there from this...

A club can pre-select an eligible player as a Category A rookie between the Pre-Season and Rookie Drafts (with the player’s consent) provided the player had nominated for but was not selected by another club at either the National or Pre-Season Drafts. In that case, the relevant club would forfeit its last available selection in the Rookie Draft to take the player.
There you go. So it's possible (likely?) the Suns will pick up more academy players on Monday. One wonders if Palm Beach will strike again.
 
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There you go. So it's possible (likely?) the Suns will pick up more academy players on Monday. One wonders if Palm Beach will strike again.
I was referring to 'next year' though with my comment above.

This year the 4 PBC boys have a nervous weekend unless the Suns have already given them the heads up. Although its a win-win really for the Suns. They can keep them in the academy program and they can be developed in the NEAFL even if they aren't rookied and save $60-80,000 per player.

The risk is they give it in get a fulltime job or travel, and a Max Spencer type gets lost.

I really didnt expect Nutting to be main listed, but good luck to him, he's improved a lot in the last 2 years and gone past a few of those Palm Beach boys. So who knows what the Suns are thinking. There's quite a few academy kids with talent they could go with as rookies and deserve a go.
 

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It is just nice to have some real options with GC kids.
Took a few years but the academy is starting to pay off for both the Suns and AFL. We just have to put up with a few southern staters whinging about academies and getting access to talent. Can't see the forest for the trees.
 

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There you go. So it's possible (likely?) the Suns will pick up more academy players on Monday. One wonders if Palm Beach will strike again.
Only palm beach boy I can see rookie listed is Jacob Dawson which is possible , but I know the club loves Boakye , Bowie and Simington , so will be interesting to see which boys they pick up.


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Only palm beach boy I can see rookie listed is Jacob Dawson which is possible , but I know the club loves Boakye , Bowie and Simington , so will be interesting to see which boys they pick up.


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There's Dawson who will get rookied and one other left field that will surprise!
 

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Picking up Bowie would be an awesome story for the AFL Cape York House program. Bowie is a Torres Strait Islander from Badu Island and could be a nice replacement in the small forward rotation with Matera leaving the club last month. He's a crumber with speed and skill, which is definitely an asset the Suns could use. As for Boakye, I don't believe he has spent enough time in Queensland to qualify for automatic access, which would mean the Suns can't pre-select him. They would have to actually rookie draft him.

Dawson is an inside midfielder so I'd expect him to be in with a fair chance of being picked up tomorrow because he had a pretty good year in 2017. I'm not sure about Simington. I think he rotated between the midfield and the backline this year so he may not be what the Suns are looking for.
Dawson had some really great numbers in the NEAFL, think he's done everything necessary to get drafted
 
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