Gold Coast SUNS Academy

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GC2015

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im playing the academy this weekend, will try to give you an update on who looks the goods.
The good news for you is one day you'll be able say you played on a 5x Coleman Medallist when he was 17 ;)

In all seriousness though it would be awesome to hear your assessment of Graham and the way he plays after playing near/on him. You said you were very impressed by Crossley so I'll be interested to hear what you have to say about young Caleb from Cairns.
 

GcSunsfan

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Bailey Scott was just on AFL360 the boys are playing on the weekend at the mcg again north Melbourne vfl team.
Bailey said every kid dream about playing footy on the mcg and he can't wait.
They didn't ask him about what team he might choose come draft time but Robbo got stuck into Nick Blakey who can also choose from 3 team

IMG_0156.jpg
 

Matchu

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Riley Clarke will play for Bendigo in the TAC Cup this year and is one to keep an eye on. The 191cm Cairns native was formerly a part of the Cairns Taipans basketball academy and moved to Echuca this year to play for Bendigo in the TAC Cup. He is still eligible to represent the Suns academy team and the Allies this year so I can only assume that means the Suns still retain exclusive academy access to him come draft time (should he be good enough).

Very much a Queenslander and could add to the Cairns connection at the Suns with Harbrow, Bowes, Heron and (likely) Graham, so it's worth following his 2018 season in the TAC Cup.
 

GC2015

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Unfortunately, I think we've missed out on an absolute gun guys. Torres Strait Islander Tamuri Wigness is turning heads in international basketball circles right now (source) but less than two years ago he was playing junior footy in Cairns for the Manunda Hawks.


Such is his talent that people are calling him 'the next Kyrie Irving'. Of course I wish the young lad all the best but I can't help but think his freakish skill and athleticism could have served us well. I really believe we need to have a closer look at the indigenous talent in our zone up north so we don't miss out on another Charlie Cameron!
 
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Unfortunately, I think we've missed out on an absolute gun guys. Torres Strait Islander Tamuri Wigness is turning heads in international basketball circles right now (source) but less than two years ago he was playing junior footy in Cairns for the Manunda Hawks.


Such is his talent that people are calling him 'the next Kyrie Irving'. Of course I wish the young lad all the best but I can't help but think his freakish skill and athleticism could have served us well. I really believe we need to have a closer look at the indigenous talent in our zone up north so we don't miss out on another Charlie Cameron!
The academy series starts tommorow, does anyone know if it is streamed
 

Matchu

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From AFL.com.au:

Matthew Conroy (Townsville/Broadbeach)
Ruckman
198cm/83kg
7/11/00


"Matt was a part of the 'talls camp' in Melbourne this week with other ruckmen/key position prospects. He plays like a midfielder around the ground, accumulates possessions and runs quite well."

Caleb Graham (Cairns/Palm Beach Currumbin)
Key defender
194cm/84kg
12/9/00


"As a centre-half back he reads the ball very well in the air and is great at intercepting it. People who do that give themselves a great chance. He's still got to improve his kicking a bit, but he can play on the best forwards and still take his stack of marks."

Fitzroy Greenwool (Cape York/Broadbeach)
Small forward
172cm/58kg
24/4/00


"He's an indigenous boy who is really quick. He's only light but he has great kicking skills, he can kick a goal and has great awareness around the forwardline. He comes from the Cape York region."

Dirk Koenen (Townsville/Palm Beach Currumbin)
Key defender
194cm/87kg
1/1/00


"He's a nice shape for the top level as a key position player. He needs to get more possessions. He'll play as a defender and he has the size and athleticism."

Bailey Scott (Broadbeach)
Midfielder
186cm/64kg
9/7/00


"Bailey is an elite decision maker who reads the play really well and has a really good outside game. He's working on his inside game, which over this next 12 months will make him a really good player. He's a long runner – he'll turn up in defence and turn up in the forward line. He's a worker."
 

GC2015

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From AFL.com.au:

Matthew Conroy (Townsville/Broadbeach)
Ruckman
198cm/83kg
7/11/00


"Matt was a part of the 'talls camp' in Melbourne this week with other ruckmen/key position prospects. He plays like a midfielder around the ground, accumulates possessions and runs quite well."

Caleb Graham (Cairns/Palm Beach Currumbin)
Key defender
194cm/84kg
12/9/00


"As a centre-half back he reads the ball very well in the air and is great at intercepting it. People who do that give themselves a great chance. He's still got to improve his kicking a bit, but he can play on the best forwards and still take his stack of marks."

Fitzroy Greenwool (Cape York/Broadbeach)
Small forward
172cm/58kg
24/4/00


"He's an indigenous boy who is really quick. He's only light but he has great kicking skills, he can kick a goal and has great awareness around the forwardline. He comes from the Cape York region."

Dirk Koenen (Townsville/Palm Beach Currumbin)
Key defender
194cm/87kg
1/1/00


"He's a nice shape for the top level as a key position player. He needs to get more possessions. He'll play as a defender and he has the size and athleticism."

Bailey Scott (Broadbeach)
Midfielder
186cm/64kg
9/7/00


"Bailey is an elite decision maker who reads the play really well and has a really good outside game. He's working on his inside game, which over this next 12 months will make him a really good player. He's a long runner – he'll turn up in defence and turn up in the forward line. He's a worker."
I see two Palmy players in there. Let's have a look at our footy factory prospects AKA PBC players in the academy team.

Corey Joyce - 174cms 66kgs (underager)
Cory Beaman - 186cms 78kgs
Jack Wingrave - 183cms 69kgs (underager)
Ashton Crossley - 182cms 84kgs (underager)
Dean Katsiris - 180cms 80kgs
Ari Miles - 186cms 93kgs
Caleb Graham - 194cms 84kgs
Dirk Koenen - 194cms 87kgs
Jared Neuhaus - 205cms 94kgs (overager)
Jayden Verdoorn - 185cms 84kgs (overager)
Coby Williams - 186cms 70kgs (underager)
Samuel Johnston - 197cms 77kgs (underager)
Riley Buckland - 174cms 60kgs (underager)

Hard to believe one club can produce 13 academy members in one single season but I'm really excited to see how many underage PBC juniors have been included. The signs are looking good to continue the production of AFL talent from PBC!
 

LynchysMob

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Is Ashton Crossley really only 183cm?

Incredible that his brother is almost 200cm but he's a medium midfielder size. Whats his playing style for those who know?

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From AFL.com.au:

Matthew Conroy (Townsville/Broadbeach)
Ruckman
198cm/83kg
7/11/00


"Matt was a part of the 'talls camp' in Melbourne this week with other ruckmen/key position prospects. He plays like a midfielder around the ground, accumulates possessions and runs quite well."

Caleb Graham (Cairns/Palm Beach Currumbin)
Key defender
194cm/84kg
12/9/00


"As a centre-half back he reads the ball very well in the air and is great at intercepting it. People who do that give themselves a great chance. He's still got to improve his kicking a bit, but he can play on the best forwards and still take his stack of marks."

Fitzroy Greenwool (Cape York/Broadbeach)
Small forward
172cm/58kg
24/4/00


"He's an indigenous boy who is really quick. He's only light but he has great kicking skills, he can kick a goal and has great awareness around the forwardline. He comes from the Cape York region."

Dirk Koenen (Townsville/Palm Beach Currumbin)
Key defender
194cm/87kg
1/1/00


"He's a nice shape for the top level as a key position player. He needs to get more possessions. He'll play as a defender and he has the size and athleticism."

Bailey Scott (Broadbeach)
Midfielder
186cm/64kg
9/7/00


"Bailey is an elite decision maker who reads the play really well and has a really good outside game. He's working on his inside game, which over this next 12 months will make him a really good player. He's a long runner – he'll turn up in defence and turn up in the forward line. He's a worker."
Very early days and worth paying attention over a long season, but my initial assessment of this lot is skewed by their ages. For example, Koenen missed last year's draft cut for minimum age by a day! He will be a much better candidate for it too and the reports are promising so far. On the other hand, Conroy will have only just turned 18 when the Draft comes around and another year might be just what he needs to mature, but if he's going well we have 8 draft picks and I suspect at least four more Academy players will be drafted.
If Scott wants to stay, then by all means we should consider him, but unless he has an outstanding year it doesn't look like he's going to cost a great deal, maybe a 2nd or 3rd rounder. Graham might be facing stiff competition from Koenen for selection and given his exposure to the market playing in rep teams he might get poached in the Draft by a needier team - suddenly the Suns are stacked with tall defenders! Greenwool sounds like a special talent, but he needs to get some Beefcake powder to bulk up because at 58kg he will get murdered.
Much as I like all these prospects, are any likely to go in the 1st Round? Maybe even the 2nd Round goes by before they are any bids. GWS have been known to nominate as many as 9 academy players, so you wonder how many the Suns will nominate now that our Academy is beginning to really produce highly regarded candidates.
It is worth pointing out that the Suns have 1 unused spot for a Category B Rookie this year. It simply means that only 7 current players need to be traded/delisted/walk away in Free Agency for 8 to come in. Any of these guys could end up being given that spot if enough currently listed players are moved on, which it presently looks like for about 5 players and there could be some big names walking too. Long term, you want to draft as many of these boys as you can to build on the Queensland identity even if only a few of them realise their AFL dreams.
 

Jirik13

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Very early days and worth paying attention over a long season, but my initial assessment of this lot is skewed by their ages. For example, Koenen missed last year's draft cut for minimum age by a day! He will be a much better candidate for it too and the reports are promising so far. On the other hand, Conroy will have only just turned 18 when the Draft comes around and another year might be just what he needs to mature, but if he's going well we have 8 draft picks and I suspect at least four more Academy players will be drafted.
If Scott wants to stay, then by all means we should consider him, but unless he has an outstanding year it doesn't look like he's going to cost a great deal, maybe a 2nd or 3rd rounder. Graham might be facing stiff competition from Koenen for selection and given his exposure to the market playing in rep teams he might get poached in the Draft by a needier team - suddenly the Suns are stacked with tall defenders! Greenwool sounds like a special talent, but he needs to get some Beefcake powder to bulk up because at 58kg he will get murdered.
Much as I like all these prospects, are any likely to go in the 1st Round? Maybe even the 2nd Round goes by before they are any bids. GWS have been known to nominate as many as 9 academy players, so you wonder how many the Suns will nominate now that our Academy is beginning to really produce highly regarded candidates.
It is worth pointing out that the Suns have 1 unused spot for a Category B Rookie this year. It simply means that only 7 current players need to be traded/delisted/walk away in Free Agency for 8 to come in. Any of these guys could end up being given that spot if enough currently listed players are moved on, which it presently looks like for about 5 players and there could be some big names walking too. Long term, you want to draft as many of these boys as you can to build on the Queensland identity even if only a few of them realise their AFL dreams.
Watching him last year, Graham is a must, could go 1st round.
 

GC2015

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Is Ashton Crossley really only 183cm?

Incredible that his brother is almost 200cm but he's a medium midfielder size. Whats his playing style for those who know?

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There's a bit of a difference in height between the two brothers but Ashton still has another year to go before he's draft eligible so maybe he still has a few centimetres of growth left in him. Speaking of brothers, we've got the Crossley boys and the Joyce boys, all from PBC. Corey is Jesse Joyce's brother for those who don't know. Wouldn't it be special if we managed to get two sets of brothers both at the club next year!
 

LynchysMob

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There's a bit of a difference in height between the two brothers but Ashton still has another year to go before he's draft eligible so maybe he still has a few centimetres of growth left in him. Speaking of brothers, we've got the Crossley boys and the Joyce boys, all from PBC. Corey is Jesse Joyce's brother for those who don't know. Wouldn't it be special if we managed to get two sets of brothers both at the club next year!
Is he any good?

Sunraysia maybe you also might have a more in depth knowledge of how he plays and his talent?

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Matchu

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Greenwool sounds like a special talent, but he needs to get some Beefcake powder to bulk up because at 58kg he will get murdered.
Bailey Scott will want to put on some weight as well. 64kg for a 186cm midfielder won't cut it at the AFL level.
 

Matchu

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He sounds like a good prospect, but hyped too much for mine. Safe bet to nominate him and if the rival bid comes in too high let him go.
If all three clubs are interested in him (and it seems like they are) then he will be the one doing the nominating, not the other way around. The rumour is he's leaning more towards staying with the Suns.
 

SunsBhoy

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There's a bit of a difference in height between the two brothers but Ashton still has another year to go before he's draft eligible so maybe he still has a few centimetres of growth left in him. Speaking of brothers, we've got the Crossley boys and the Joyce boys, all from PBC. Corey is Jesse Joyce's brother for those who don't know. Wouldn't it be special if we managed to get two sets of brothers both at the club next year!
Seen a bit of Ashton , totally different to Brayden , but has a steep climb to get on the Suns list IMO , good thing for him he has 2 full seasons before draft time.


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SunsBhoy

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If all three clubs are interested in him (and it seems like they are) then he will be the one doing the nominating, not the other way around. The rumour is he's leaning more towards staying with the Suns.
Watching Scott a bit last season he didn’t really stand out like Graham and Koenan did , if his dad wasn’t Robert I wonder if the hype would be there .


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Peel67skin

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TASMANIA VS. GOLD COAST ACADEMY
LIKELY Tasmanian draftee Chayce Jones has starred in the opening game of the NAB AFL Under 18 Academy Series at Blacktown International Sports Park on Saturday.

After trailing at quarter-time, Tasmania booted eight goals to one in the second quarter, to move to an uncatchable lead over the Gold Coast Suns Academy side, eventually running out 45-points winners.

Last weekend, 18-year-old Jones impressed in front of recruiters at the MCG against the North Melbourne VFL side, continuing his strong form in the attacking half of the ground, booting four goals to help the Mariners to a big win.

A serious injury curtailed majority of the Mariners captains bottom-age season, with a serious ankle injury requiring surgery – doctors had to insert a plate into the side of his leg near his ankle, which was screwed together.

Outside Midfielder Fraser Turner collected a match-high 34 disposals, 10 marks and seven inside 50s, aided by ruckman Tim Auckland who used his frame well around the ground and was the Mariners best player on the day.

North Melbourne Next-Generation Academy prospect Tarryn Thomas (23 disposals) did some good things throughout the mornings, continuing to put his hand up for a possible Top 10 bid.

Mariners overager Thomas Mundy and Blair Rubock both booted three goals each.

For the Suns, tall defender Caleb Grahamshowed some good signs overhead, claiming five marks for the game – repelling multiple Mariners attacks from defensive 50.

Midfielder Bailey Scott used his speed through the midfield, gathering 23 disposals, five clearances and a goal.

Scott is eligible to be drafted by three clubs (as well as having the option of entering the open draft), as the son of former Cat (132 games) and Kangaroos (111 games) player Robert Scott is eligible for father-son both clubs, as well as being part of the Gold Coast Suns academy.

194cm tall defender Dirk Koenen was the Suns’ best player for the contest, taking eight marks for the match.

Tasmania face Northern Territory in Melbourne next week, while Gold Coast will play Brisbane Lions Academy at South Pine.

TASMANIA 1.1 9.3 10.6 15.9 (99)
GOLD COAST 2.1 3.2 5.5 8.6 (54)

GOALS
TASMANIA:
Jones 4, Rubock 3, Mundy 3, Dakin 2, Banks-Smith 2, O’Neill
GOLD COAST: Smith 2, Burke, Conroy, Graham, Greenwool, Lowah, Scott

BEST
TASMANIA:
Auckland, Turner, Jones, House, McGuinness, Gadomski
GOLD COAST:
Koenen, Smith, McDonald, Scott, Graham
 
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