Next Suns Academy gun Leonardo Lombard to strut stuff for Allies as full squad announced

After producing four picks in the top 30 last year, Gold Coast’s Academy is coming back for more at the Under 18 National Championships. See the full Allies squad here.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 27: Leonardo Lombard of the AFL Academy in action during the 2024 AFL Academy match between the Marsh AFL National Academy Boys and Footscray Bulldogs at Whitten Oval on April 27, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

The Allies have confirmed a 31-player squad ahead of the AFL under-18 national championships, which includes a raft of talent linked to northern club academies.

The squad is headlined by first-round draft prospect Leo Lombard, a prolific ball-winning midfielder who is tied to the Gold Coast Suns Academy.

The Suns Academy produced four of the top 30 draft picks in last year’s national draft, with Jed Walter (pick 3), Ethan Read (pick 9), Jake Rogers (pick 14) and Will Graham (pick 26) all being AFL-listed by the Suns.

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Leonardo Lombard will headline the Allies squad at the Under 18 National Championships. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Lombard has also been part of the AFL Academy this year, along with fellow Allies squad members in Joel Cochran, Oliver Dean, Sam Marshall, Ricky Mentha and Jobe Shanahan.

Cochran is tied to the Sydney Swans Academy, with Marshall part of the Brisbane Lions Academy and Mentha tied to Melbourne’s Next Generation Academy.

GWS Giants Academy ruckman Logan Smith – who has attracted plenty of attention after making a strong start to his top-age season – is also part of the Allies squad.

Dean – who is another developing ruckman – is one of five Tasmanian’s to be picked for the Allies as the state builds towards fielding an AFL team from 2028.

One of those other Tasmanian’s is Geordie Payne, a former rebounding defender who has moved forward this year and is eligible to be selected in the AFL mid-season rookie draft on May 29.

Geordie Payne during the Young Guns versus Vic Metro game in 2024. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Blair Jackson

Melbourne father-son prospect and Gold Coast Suns Academy member Kalani White has been picked as a bottom-age player, not being draft eligible until 2025.

Brisbane Lions Academy member Daniel Annable, Gold Coast Suns Academy member Zeke Uwland, Sydney Swans Academy members Lachlan Carmichael and Noah Chamberlain and Northern Territory ruckman Taj Murray have also been picked as promising bottom-age prospects.

The Allies – who won the national championships in 2023 – will be led by Brisbane Lions Academy coach Mitch Hahn this year.

The side kicks off its campaign against South Australia at Thebarton Oval on Sunday, May 26.

Originally published as Next Suns Academy gun Leonardo Lombard to strut stuff for Allies as full squad announced