Capricornia players headed to Gold Coast Suns Academy All Stars events

Twenty-one players from Capricornia will look to make their mark at three-day intensive training programs in Townsville over the next two weekends. See who they are.

Twenty-one Capricornia Aussie rules players are heading to Townsville for the Gold Coast Suns Academy North Queensland All Stars events.

Twenty-one of Capricornia’s most exciting Aussie rules prospects will look to make their mark at Gold Coast Suns Academy training programs.

The under-16 players will head to Townsville for the three-day North Queensland All Stars events, with the girls in action this weekend and the boys the following weekend.

Gold Coast Suns Academy members Hayley Petersen and Evie Norton at a training session in Rockhampton.

Dan O’Brien, the Suns’ Academy Coordinator for Capricornia, said they would join their peers from the three other northern hubs - Mackay, Townsville and Cairns.

They would attend training and education sessions and be put through their paces in an intrasquad game.

Gold Coast Suns Academy member Oliver Bennett flies high.

O’Brien said the Townsville intensive was the culmination of a five-week training program for the Capricornia contingent.

The girls would be aiming for selection in the Gold Coast Suns under-16 girls team that will contest the national championships at the end of the month.

The boys are eyeing inclusion in a North Queensland outfit that will play against the Suns’ southern Academy equivalents in Lismore in April.

Gold Coast Suns Academy members Tahli Hayes and Heidi Karger.

O’Brien said it was an exciting step for the Capricornia players, who had been talent identified after strong showings in their respective AFL Capricornia club competitions and at Academy tryouts.

The Suns Academy is designed to prepare players for the next steps on their football journey and allow them to reach their full potential.

Capricornia academy members

Girls: Jazmin Cadzow-Smith, Maggie Chant, Tahli Hayles, Heidi Karger, Finlay Langridge, Layni Mallie-Roberts, Hannah Mills, Isabelle Moore, Evie Norton, Hayley Petersen.

Boys: Oliver Bennett, Aidan Cane, Archie Clifford, Ja’scha Kelly, Hugh Krievins, Xavier McWhinney, Addis Melville, Tanna Sell, Bryce Shellebeck, Sam Spearing, Zac Whitehead.