Gold Coast SUNS Academy

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Do you know that for sure or are you guessing?
The Palmy boys, including next years crop, have all been on schoolies together, but sorry, I'll leave it at that. In 24 hours the Suns supporters can do their homework on the other kid. As I'm going on 2nd hand info, I'll wait myself till tomorrow night. But the Suns have contacted the academy boys they are going to rookie tomorrow night.
 
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Dawson reminds me of a Fiorini , a guy who has a knack of finding the pill , knows where to be on a field.


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Disposal is his issue though. But plenty of inside mids have 50-60% efficiency. If he can improve his around the ground efficiency, should develop into a very good mid. Has the tank and, as you said, racks up disposals
 

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The Palmy boys, including next years crop, have all been on schoolies together, but sorry, I'll leave it at that. In 24 hours the Suns supporters can do their homework on the other kid. As I'm going on 2nd hand info, I'll wait myself till tomorrow night. But the Suns have contacted the academy boys they are going to rookie tomorrow night.
Cheers for the info mate. It's really quite incredible how tight all the Palmy boys are but I guess that's to be expected when you all go to school together and play footy with each other on weekends.

The Palm Beach culture is probably comparable to the Geelong Falcons in Victoria.
 

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Cheers for the info mate. It's really quite incredible how tight all the Palmy boys are but I guess that's to be expected when you all go to school together and play footy with each other on weekends.

The Palm Beach culture is probably comparable to the Geelong Falcons in Victoria.
Probably more Geelong Grammar. I went to a school in Geelong that tried really hard to get young footballers in and now has 3 in the AFL but i think Grammar is where the most come from and have that bond you mention with PBC. Even getting role players from these avenues are great because they know how to link up with each other.
 

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Probably more Geelong Grammar. I went to a school in Geelong that tried really hard to get young footballers in and now has 3 in the AFL but i think Grammar is where the most come from and have that bond you mention with PBC. Even getting role players from these avenues are great because they know how to link up with each other.
I probably don't need to point this out to you but the Geelong Falcons are a TAC Cup team and Geelong Grammar is a school but I'm certain you would see a large crossover between the two. As is the case in Palm Beach with the high school team and the Lions (QAFL team). I'm willing to say the crossover is probably even stronger in Palm Beach because the two teams share the same ground (Salk Oval) and the same head coach (Chad Owens). It's probably fair to say Palm Beach Currumbin has turned into a footy factory these days.

The Palmy kids are spending six days a week training with each other through the excellence program at PBC High and playing junior/senior football with the Lions. It's a great way to prepare yourself for the rigours of AFL footy and already having that connection with teammates from their junior days has to give them a leg up.
 

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I probably don't need to point this out to you but the Geelong Falcons are a TAC Cup team and Geelong Grammar is a school but I'm certain you would see a large crossover between the two. As is the case in Palm Beach with the high school team and the Lions (QAFL team). I'm willing to say the crossover is probably even stronger in Palm Beach because the two teams share the same ground (Salk Oval) and the same head coach (Chad Owens). It's probably fair to say Palm Beach Currumbin has turned into a footy factory these days.

The Palmy kids are spending six days a week training with each other through the excellence program at PBC High and playing junior/senior football with the Lions. It's a great way to prepare yourself for the rigours of AFL footy and already having that connection with teammates from their junior days has to give them a leg up.
Yeah, there are differences some that the Suns can use to their advantage. The media coverage even for TAC cup results are a lot higher but none of them get the chance to play against AFL listed players like the NEAFL offers.
 

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Yeah, there are differences some that the Suns can use to their advantage. The media coverage even for TAC cup results are a lot higher but none of them get the chance to play against AFL listed players like the NEAFL offers.
In School Interstate trips to Melbourne last year PBC School won all of their games against Schools they played. Not been same in the past .
Star players , Heron, Dawson , Graham , Burrows.
 

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In School Interstate trips to Melbourne last year PBC School won all of their games against Schools they played. Not been same in the past .
Star players , Heron, Dawson , Graham , Burrows.
I'd be interested to hear which Melbourne-based schools they beat. I can only assume none of the teams they beat were APS schools.

Heron and Graham are originally from Cairns and it certainly seems to be the preferred way of moving talent from the Far North to the Gold Coast these days. When they are ready to move, enroll them at PBC High and have them play their club footy for the PBC Lions. It's a proven route into the AFL.

For anyone that's interested, the PBC High School team are known as the 'Reds' so I will refer to them as the PBC Reds from now on to differentiate them from the PBC Lions.
 

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I'd be interested to hear which Melbourne-based schools they beat. I can only assume none of the teams they beat were APS schools.

Heron and Graham are originally from Cairns and it certainly seems to be the preferred way of moving talent from the Far North to the Gold Coast these days. When they are ready to move, enroll them at PBC High and have them play their club footy for the PBC Lions. It's a proven route into the AFL.

For anyone that's interested, the PBC High School team are known as the 'Reds' so I will refer to them as the PBC Reds from now on to differentiate them from the PBC Lions.
Graham didn’t move to Gold Coast for footy reasons , just his family moving here , not sure his family are fully invested in his footy career just yet as he missed the suns NEAFL final for a family holiday .


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Graham didn’t move to Gold Coast for footy reasons , just his family moving here , not sure his family are fully invested in his footy career just yet as he missed the suns NEAFL final for a family holiday.
Is that so? Based on what I've read and seen, he seemed like a lock to be picked up by the Suns next year. A lack of investment is a bit concerning leading into his draft year but on the flip side it could possibly mean he has a fair amount of room for improvement, despite already being very talented. Good height already at 192cms and probably has more growth in him. I remember seeing the Suns swing him forward in one of the NEAFL games and he looked very capable so there are many options when it comes to Graham.
 

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The Palmy boys, including next years crop, have all been on schoolies together, but sorry, I'll leave it at that. In 24 hours the Suns supporters can do their homework on the other kid. As I'm going on 2nd hand info, I'll wait myself till tomorrow night. But the Suns have contacted the academy boys they are going to rookie tomorrow night.
Can only think the other boy you are refering to is Sam Davidson , which if selected would take Palmy boys to 7 , to the point you would be hard pressed to find another club with this amount of players from one club on there list.
 

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These are next crop of academy , more will be added

Zach Palmer 22/08/00192 87Broadbeach Cats
Dirk Koenen 1/01/00 194 84 Hermit Park Tigers
Rainsford Stone 19/06/00 192 92 Surfers Paradise Demons
Cory Beaman 3/05/00 184 75 Burleigh Bombers
Bailey Scott 9/07/00 184 70 Broadbeach Cats
Cooper Portelli 11/08/00 185 78 Labrador Tigers
Caleb Graham 12/09/00 192 82 Cairns Saints/Palm Beach Currumbin Lion
Jarrod Mills 24/03/00 177 75 Labrador Tigers
Lachlan McDonald 2/03/00 182 74 Labrador Tigers
Matthew Smith 19/02/00 183 97 Broadbeach Cats

Underagers

Connor Budarick 6/04/01 173 67 Labrador Tigers
Jack Wingrave 3/08/01 181 65 Burleigh Bombers
Mitchell Fitzpatrick 11/1/01 175 71 Springwood Pumas

Koenan , Scott and Graham the standouts atm but things will change.
 

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These are next crop of academy , more will be added

Zach Palmer 22/08/00192 87Broadbeach Cats
Dirk Koenen 1/01/00 194 84 Hermit Park Tigers
Rainsford Stone 19/06/00 192 92 Surfers Paradise Demons
Cory Beaman 3/05/00 184 75 Burleigh Bombers
Bailey Scott 9/07/00 184 70 Broadbeach Cats
Cooper Portelli 11/08/00 185 78 Labrador Tigers
Caleb Graham 12/09/00 192 82 Cairns Saints/Palm Beach Currumbin Lion
Jarrod Mills 24/03/00 177 75 Labrador Tigers
Lachlan McDonald 2/03/00 182 74 Labrador Tigers
Matthew Smith 19/02/00 183 97 Broadbeach Cats

Underagers

Connor Budarick 6/04/01 173 67 Labrador Tigers
Jack Wingrave 3/08/01 181 65 Burleigh Bombers
Mitchell Fitzpatrick 11/1/01 175 71 Springwood Pumas

Koenan , Scott and Graham the standouts atm but things will change.
What are Budarick's chances the year after?
 

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Wasn't Cooper Portelli some sort of prodigal talent?

Also remember McDonald playing some very good NEAFL games for his age.

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I'd be interested to hear which Melbourne-based schools they beat. I can only assume none of the teams they beat were APS schools.

Heron and Graham are originally from Cairns and it certainly seems to be the preferred way of moving talent from the Far North to the Gold Coast these days. When they are ready to move, enroll them at PBC High and have them play their club footy for the PBC Lions. It's a proven route into the AFL.

For anyone that's interested, the PBC High School team are known as the 'Reds' so I will refer to them as the PBC Reds from now on to differentiate them from the PBC Lions.
Thay play Hallam twice every year, once here and once there. A few years ago Hallam had quite a few TAC cups boys and smashed PBC who had the opposite because the Suns wouldn't allow the academy boys play (including Scheery/Crossley) to play . Most of the academy boys played last and this year and PBC have done much better obviously.
 

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Wasn't Cooper Portelli some sort of prodigal talent?

Also remember McDonald playing some very good NEAFL games for his age.

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Saw him play in our NEAFL team play Sharks in i think his only appearance late on in the season , and had 20 disposals and a goal , did'nt look out of place.
 

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Thay play Hallam twice every year, once here and once there. A few years ago Hallam had quite a few TAC cups boys and smashed PBC who had the opposite because the Suns wouldn't allow the academy boys play (including Scheery/Crossley) to play . Most of the academy boys played last and this year and PBC have done much better obviously.
Interesting stuff. You'd like to hope the Suns are encouraging the Lions-Reds program they have going on at PBC because the Suns are the ones who are going to reap the most rewards from it. It's very rare to have a football club and a high school so intrinsically linked with one another and the Suns should be supporting that.

One thing that doesn't really get mentioned very much on here is the fierce Aussie rules rivalry between PBC and Helensvale. Helensvale High also runs a successful Aussie rules sports excellence program with recent graduates including Andrew Boston and Rory Thompson. A quick look at this year's school competition shows Portelli and a few other Labrador juniors are playing footy for Helensvale High. So I think it would be fair to say the majority of Labrador juniors are likely to attend Helensvale High if they are serious about footy.

For the school-club idea to really take off on the Gold Coast there should be steps taken to establish an Aussie rules excellence program at Benowa High (which would allow for a friendly relationship with the nearby Surfers Paradise Demons) and at Merrimac High (same situation with the Broadbeach Cats). It's a proven method of developing AFL players and I really think the Suns should be trying to make it happen at Benowa and Merrimac.
 

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For the school-club idea to really take off on the Gold Coast there should be steps taken to establish an Aussie rules excellence program at Benowa High (which would allow for a friendly relationship with the nearby Surfers Paradise Demons) and at Merrimac High (same situation with the Broadbeach Cats). It's a proven method of developing AFL players and I really think the Suns should be trying to make it happen at Benowa and Merrimac.

I think that's a great idea....maybe thurls or Corkie can take that idea to the powers that be, as they seem to be ours ears for all things Suns....
 
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Interesting stuff. You'd like to hope the Suns are encouraging the Lions-Reds program they have going on at PBC because the Suns are the ones who are going to reap the most rewards from it. It's very rare to have a football club and a high school so intrinsically linked with one another and the Suns should be supporting that.

One thing that doesn't really get mentioned very much on here is the fierce Aussie rules rivalry between PBC and Helensvale. Helensvale High also runs a successful Aussie rules sports excellence program with recent graduates including Andrew Boston and Rory Thompson. A quick look at this year's school competition shows Portelli and a few other Labrador juniors are playing footy for Helensvale High. So I think it would be fair to say the majority of Labrador juniors are likely to attend Helensvale High if they are serious about footy.

For the school-club idea to really take off on the Gold Coast there should be steps taken to establish an Aussie rules excellence program at Benowa High (which would allow for a friendly relationship with the nearby Surfers Paradise Demons) and at Merrimac High (same situation with the Broadbeach Cats). It's a proven method of developing AFL players and I really think the Suns should be trying to make it happen at Benowa and Merrimac.
Good in theory, but the problem would the limited number of players. Not sure about Helensvale, but I assume it is a large-ish school. PBC total year 12 graduating this year was over 400 (then add in year 11 student numbers to make a team).Not sure Merrimac or Benowa would have enough players to put a team together to compete. Merrimac location is perfect though.

Then PBC has Chaddy, Macca (helping at Suns academy) and Hilly (coached at Broady) and a new teacher from Melbourne with coaching experience, and you have some serious quality coaching for these kids 3-4 times a week at school for 6 years. Without wanting to disrespect the Helensale teachers too much, even they can't compete with that. As I said in an earlier post, they do have some quality juniors coming through though. Then you go to Merrimac or Benowa, without knowing, what level of 'coaching' would they receive. Remember they need to be qualified teachers.
 

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Good in theory, but the problem would the limited number of players. Not sure about Helensvale, but I assume it is a large-ish school. PBC total year 12 graduating this year was over 400 (then add in year 11 student numbers to make a team).Not sure Merrimac or Benowa would have enough players to put a team together to compete. Merrimac location is perfect though.

Then PBC has Chaddy, Macca (helping at Suns academy) and Hilly (coached at Broady) and a new teacher from Melbourne with coaching experience, and you have some serious quality coaching for these kids 3-4 times a week at school for 6 years. Without wanting to disrespect the Helensvale teachers too much, even they can't compete with that. As I said in an earlier post, they do have some quality juniors coming through though. Then you go to Merrimac or Benowa, without knowing, what level of 'coaching' would they receive. Remember they need to be qualified teachers.
Those are fair points and I'm sure it's not as easy as I probably made it out to be. No doubt the pool of players would be a concern, as would the coaching staff but I just wonder what the outcome would be if they were to start small by granting a certain amount of money to each school to start their own Aussie rules excellence program (which could include hiring football specific coach/es from the southern states who are also teachers) and follow the PBC model by working towards building a close relationship with the nearby QAFL football club.

Geographically, PBC won't be challenged in the south. Merrimac/Broadbeach and Benowa/Surfers would be able to draw from the large population based in the central suburbs and obviously Labrador/Helensvale are already drawing players from the booming north. I've probably just made it sound simplistic again but I understand there are many hurdles to make it a reality. I'm just thinking big picture and long-term.
 
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