Gold Coast SUNS Academy

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Matchu

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Just keen to learn a bit about different cultures in Australia and how junior development works elsewhere
I know all about League/Union pathways but am limited on AFL pathways and cultures outside of NSW/QLD.
I think you'd find most traditional footy states would be the same with the big private schools recruiting the talented juniors for their school teams and using scholarships as incentive. Examples - Lance Franklin attending Wesley College in Perth (despite being from a little country town called Dowerin) or Chad Cornes, Kane Cornes and Matthew Pavlich attending Sacred Heart College in Adelaide. There are many examples but I've just mentioned those guys to give you a quick snapshot of WA and SA. Then you have the Northern Territory situation where talented kids are often offered scholarships to attend the big private schools in Victoria and play football for them. Cyril Rioli (Scotch College) and Steven May (Melbourne Grammar) are recent examples of that.

It's a pretty similar situation in Brisbane with the GPS system, it's just that the private schools play rugby union instead of Aussie rules. Karmichael Hunt is an example of a junior that benefited from one of those private school scholarships at Churchie instead of finishing his schooling at Sunnybank High. As for the Gold Coast, it's completely different and I think that has a lot to do with a lack of history/prestige in the local private school sports competition. Gold Coast APS schools like Somerset, All Saints and Emmanuel aren't desperately trying to steal the best Aussie rules/league/union players from PBC High or any other public/state school. It's just not a priority like it is in other major cities of Australia.

It's also important to distinguish between league/union pathways and how they are intrinsically linked to the socioeconomic status of either sport, which flows into the schooling system as well. Aussie rules doesn't have that issue - it's played by anyone of any background. Therefore, it is possible for either private or public/state schools to run highly successful Aussie rules programs and I think once upon a time Melbourne High School had a very reputable Aussie rules program. However, when private schools start throwing their weight around (scholarships/money) it usually ends the same way every time and the public/state schools have a hard time trying to keep up.
 

GC2015

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I stumbled across a really interesting and possibly historic photo tonight. Here are the PBC High boys when they snapped a six year losing streak to Helensvale and claimed the 2013 Senior Schools of Excellence Cup at the Gabba.



You might notice Jesse Joyce on the left and Max Spencer on the right. You could argue this was the moment the PBC footy factory started to take shape.
 

Matchu

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Came across this on another board and thought I'd share it here:

2018 U15 Queensland All – Nations Team
No.
Name Region Nationality
1 Glen Saniong PNG PNG
2
Aleen Sanni Brisbane Nigeria
3 Keshava Raju Gold Coast India
4 Daniel Kaile PNG PNG
5 Kasey Coleman Townsville Philippines
6
Caleb Back Darling Downs Indonesian
7 Samuel Pettigrew Brisbane Ireland
8 Jesse Mcleod Gold Coast Japan
9 Austin Harris Cairns Thailand
10
Mibaraka Ruhirika Brisbane Congo
11 Jake Langmaid Gold Coast United Kingdom
12 Noah Chapman Gold Coast United Kingdom
13
Tony Obol Brisbane Sudan
14 Ethan Rogers Gold Coast South Africa
15
Jack Bennett Brisbane Singapore
16 Majok Chol Brisbane Sudan
17 Cameron Cripps Brisbane PNG
18 Owen Burns Gold Coast United Kingdom
19 Moses Deng Brisbane Sudan

2018 U15 Queensland KickStart (Indigenous) Team
No.
NAME Region
1 Tyler Molony Gold Coast
2
Taj Moncur Brisbane
3 Daequan Connolly Cairns
4 Nigel Wosomo Townsville
5 Ashton Koongotema Cairns
6 Mclofty Gaiden Cairns
7 Malachi Dumas Gold Coast
8 Jamal Shortjoe Townsville
9
Michael Robinson Darling Downs
10 Cody Harrison Brisbane
11 Ethan Fletcher Gold Coast
12
Eli Robinson Darling Downs
13 Shannon Shaun Cairns
14
Preston Cockatoo-Collins Brisbane
15 Mitchell Roachford Brisbane
16 Travis Cornthwaite Cairns
16 Michael Schwartz Townsville
18 Fred Billy Townsville
19 Denrick Toby Cairns
20 Philemon Asse Cairns
21 Marshall Gilbert Townsville
22 Elijah Nankivell Gold Coast


I've bolded the players in the Gold Coast zone. The KickStart team is an all-indigenous team and it's nice to see so many players from North QLD in that list. There's every possibility that the next Chalie Cameron is on that list so hopefully some of these kids end up on the Suns list, or at least on another AFL club list.
 

Mr Bods

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Came across this on another board and thought I'd share it here:

2018 U15 Queensland All – Nations Team
No.
Name Region Nationality
1 Glen Saniong PNG PNG
2
Aleen Sanni Brisbane Nigeria
3 Keshava Raju Gold Coast India
4 Daniel Kaile PNG PNG
5 Kasey Coleman Townsville Philippines
6
Caleb Back Darling Downs Indonesian
7 Samuel Pettigrew Brisbane Ireland
8 Jesse Mcleod Gold Coast Japan
9 Austin Harris Cairns Thailand
10
Mibaraka Ruhirika Brisbane Congo
11 Jake Langmaid Gold Coast United Kingdom
12 Noah Chapman Gold Coast United Kingdom
13
Tony Obol Brisbane Sudan
14 Ethan Rogers Gold Coast South Africa
15
Jack Bennett Brisbane Singapore
16 Majok Chol Brisbane Sudan
17 Cameron Cripps Brisbane PNG
18 Owen Burns Gold Coast United Kingdom
19 Moses Deng Brisbane Sudan

2018 U15 Queensland KickStart (Indigenous) Team
No.
NAME Region
1 Tyler Molony Gold Coast
2
Taj Moncur Brisbane
3 Daequan Connolly Cairns
4 Nigel Wosomo Townsville
5 Ashton Koongotema Cairns
6 Mclofty Gaiden Cairns
7 Malachi Dumas Gold Coast
8 Jamal Shortjoe Townsville
9
Michael Robinson Darling Downs
10 Cody Harrison Brisbane
11 Ethan Fletcher Gold Coast
12
Eli Robinson Darling Downs
13 Shannon Shaun Cairns
14
Preston Cockatoo-Collins Brisbane
15 Mitchell Roachford Brisbane
16 Travis Cornthwaite Cairns
16 Michael Schwartz Townsville
18 Fred Billy Townsville
19 Denrick Toby Cairns
20 Philemon Asse Cairns
21 Marshall Gilbert Townsville
22 Elijah Nankivell Gold Coast


I've bolded the players in the Gold Coast zone. The KickStart team is an all-indigenous team and it's nice to see so many players from North QLD in that list. There's every possibility that the next Chalie Cameron is on that list so hopefully some of these kids end up on the Suns list, or at least on another AFL club list.
Malachi Dumas-one to watch
 

Mr Bods

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Yeah? Another PBC boy?

What position does he play?
No he’s from the Tweed Area and doesn’t go to PBC. He’s in the Academy of course. He’s a midfielder but could end up anywhere really except for the Key Positions. Hes not a “skinny half back flanker” either. He will be nuggety enough to hold his own physically.
 

Matchu

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No he’s from the Tweed Area and doesn’t go to PBC. He’s in the Academy of course. He’s a midfielder but could end up anywhere really except for the Key Positions. Hes not a “skinny half back flanker” either. He will be nuggety enough to hold his own physically.
Interesting. I wonder if he'll follow in Jesse Joyce's footsteps and switch from Cooly/Tweed to PBC in the next year or two. I imagine it would be better for his development if he switched to PBC since it's the only QAFL team based on the southern side of the Gold Coast.
 

Mr Bods

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Interesting. I wonder if he'll follow in Jesse Joyce's footsteps and switch from Cooly/Tweed to PBC in the next year or two. I imagine it would be better for his development if he switched to PBC since it's the only QAFL team based on the southern side of the Gold Coast.
I think he plays for Palmy Now on the weekend as his club team. Not 100% sure.
He will probably go to PBC High next year for year 11/12 and then the PBC Marketing Machine will take total credit for him when he gets drafted like they do with everyone else. That’s how they operate.
They are like a boss or work colleague that takes the credit for other people’s work.
You all have come across that before I’m sure.
 

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Came across this on another board and thought I'd share it here:

2018 U15 Queensland All – Nations Team
No.
Name Region Nationality
1 Glen Saniong PNG PNG
2
Aleen Sanni Brisbane Nigeria
3 Keshava Raju Gold Coast India
4 Daniel Kaile PNG PNG
5 Kasey Coleman Townsville Philippines
6
Caleb Back Darling Downs Indonesian
7 Samuel Pettigrew Brisbane Ireland
8 Jesse Mcleod Gold Coast Japan
9 Austin Harris Cairns Thailand
10
Mibaraka Ruhirika Brisbane Congo
11 Jake Langmaid Gold Coast United Kingdom
12 Noah Chapman Gold Coast United Kingdom
13
Tony Obol Brisbane Sudan
14 Ethan Rogers Gold Coast South Africa
15
Jack Bennett Brisbane Singapore
16 Majok Chol Brisbane Sudan
17 Cameron Cripps Brisbane PNG
18 Owen Burns Gold Coast United Kingdom
19 Moses Deng Brisbane Sudan
.
Austin Harris is a gun. Dad played State cricket for QLD and Tas. Austin is a fine cricketer as well. Keep an eye out for the under age boys listed. Not all Suns academy though.
 

Matchu

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I think he plays for Palmy Now on the weekend as his club team. Not 100% sure.
He will probably go to PBC High next year for year 11/12 and then the PBC Marketing Machine will take total credit for him when he gets drafted like they do with everyone else. That’s how they operate.
They are like a boss or work colleague that takes the credit for other people’s work.
You all have come across that before I’m sure.
I understand the frustration, particularly if you are involved with a club like Coolangatta or Burleigh who have produced their fair share of exception juniors. However, the structure of Queensland footy right now has been specifically designed to lessen the exact problem you brought up.

The current structure is far better than it used to be when Southport would literally raid any Gold Coast club of their talent. The Sharks had complete monopoly of the situation and no club even got close. Guys like Marcus Ashcroft (Surfers Paradise junior), Nick Riewoldt (Broadbeach junior), Andrew Raines (Palm Beach junior) Daniel Merrett (Surfers Paradise junior) and Dayne Beams (Carrara/Mudgeeraba junior) were stolen and in their last year or two of junior football and the Sharks took all the credit when they were drafted. At least these days you have four different GC clubs that have a shot at producing AFL players.

Back on topic, hopefully Dumas continues his development through the PBC program and makes it to the AFL.

Austin Harris is a gun. Dad played State cricket for QLD and Tas. Austin is a fine cricketer as well. Keep an eye out for the under age boys listed. Not all Suns academy though.
So I take it his mother is Thai and his father is Aussie? What position does he play?
 

Mr Bods

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I understand the frustration, particularly if you are involved with a club like Coolangatta or Burleigh who have produced their fair share of exception juniors. However, the structure of Queensland footy right now has been specifically designed to lessen the exact problem you brought up.

The current structure is far better than it used to be when Southport would literally raid any Gold Coast club of their talent. The Sharks had complete monopoly of the situation and no club even got close. Guys like Marcus Ashcroft (Surfers Paradise junior), Nick Riewoldt (Broadbeach junior), Andrew Raines (Palm Beach junior) Daniel Merrett (Surfers Paradise junior) and Dayne Beams (Carrara/Mudgeeraba junior) were stolen and in their last year or two of junior football and the Sharks took all the credit when they were drafted. At least these days you have four different GC clubs that have a shot at producing AFL players.

Back on topic, hopefully Dumas continues his development through the PBC program and makes it to the AFL.


So I take it his mother is Thai and his father is Aussie? What position does he play?
I don’t disagree....I just like to remind people periodically of how it works so that when we say PBC PBC oh how wonderful you are PBC that we keep in mind that it’s a regional team effort and that they exist to put the icing on the cake.

I live in Currumbin so don’t get me wrong, I’m very proud of what’s going on at my local High School.
 

Matchu

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I don’t disagree....I just like to remind people periodically of how it works so that when we say PBC PBC oh how wonderful you are PBC that we keep in mind that it’s a regional team effort and that they exist to put the icing on the cake.

I live in Currumbin so don’t get me wrong, I’m very proud of what’s going on at my local High School.
No doubt. Crossley and Dawson are Burleigh juniors who switched to PBC. Also, Jacob Heron is from Cairns so none of the PBC draftees from last year are actually PBC juniors. Having said that, there's a pathway, and the pathway for southern Gold Coasters involves PBC these days so that's just the way it is.

This is quite common though. The TAC Cup clubs in Victoria take all the credit for other club's hard work in the younger years.
 

GC2015

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I think it's worth following the 2018 AFLQ Schools Cup in this thread because our Gold Coast schools almost always win and become state champions. There are also lots of our academy kids competing throughout QLD. For example, Jack Bowes used to play for St Augustines in this competition back when he was based in Cairns.


 
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I think it's worth following the 2018 AFLQ Schools Cup in this thread because our Gold Coast schools almost always win and become state champions. There are also lots of our academy kids competing throughout QLD. For example, Jack Bowes used to play for St Augustines in this competition back when he was based in Cairns.


Some very good players come into the PBC seniors every year, but the last few years I cant help think a lot of real dominating game winners have graduated. Will be interesting to see if Helensvale can start to get some wins on the board this year.
 

GC2015

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Some very good players come into the PBC seniors every year, but the last few years I cant help think a lot of real dominating game winners have graduated. Will be interesting to see if Helensvale can start to get some wins on the board this year.
There does seem to have been a step up at the pointy end of talented recent PBC graduates. What can we put this down to? Is it pure luck/coincidence or did something change at PBC 3-5 years ago? Helensvale seem to have fallen well behind PBC in recent years but it wasn't that long ago that they were on par, if not better, than Palm Beach. Fingers crossed they can step up again over the next few years because the Suns would be the big winners if they do.

I had a little look online at the senior male teams entered in the AFLQ Schools Cup this year and this is what I found in our zone.

Gold Coast
  1. Assisi Catholic College
  2. Helensvale State High School
  3. Marymount College
  4. Palm Beach Currumbin State High School
  5. Park Ridge State High School (Logan)
  6. Pimpama State Secondary College
  7. Robina State High School
  8. Trinity College
  9. Windaroo Valley State High School (Logan)
Northern Rivers (NSW)
  1. Byron Bay High School
  2. Casino High School
  3. Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School
  4. Mt St Patrick College
  5. Murwillumbah High School
  6. St Joseph's College
  7. Trinity Catholic College
  8. Xavier Catholic College
Cairns
  1. Bentley Park College
  2. Mossman State High School
  3. St Andrew's Catholic College
  4. Trinity Bay State High School
Townsville
  1. Kirwin State High School
  2. St Teresas College
Capricornia
  1. North Rockhampton State High School
  2. Tannum Sands State High School
  3. The Cathedral College
Mackay
  1. Mercy College
 
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GC2015

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My feeling is Graham is the one that's going to need a very high pick. The good thing about that is he will be worth it.
It's pretty likely we'll have two top 10 picks this year so, if we have to, we can match a top 10 bid on Graham. Also, fortunately for us we have a few second and third round picks in the bag for this year and can use them to match bids on Graham and Scott if they come outside the top 10. We're in a pretty good position to keep our best academy talent this year while also picking up two top 10 picks. Hoping Koenen can also get at least a rookie spot with us this year because he's a talented lad that can add to our key position depth.
 
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