Top 20 under 20: Gold Coast’s best sporting talents of 2024 revealed
From junior Matildas carving it up to future Titans starring on the national stage, we reveal the top 20 Gold Coast stars under 20 who achieved the remarkable in 2024.
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There’s no shortage of supply when it comes to sporting talent on the coast.
From junior Matildas carving it up in A-League Women’s to future Titans claiming National Schoolboys gold, we reveal the 20 young guns under 20 whose resumes grew through 2024.
In the mix? Athletes from across eight sports including golf, surfing and skating.
This list only represents a snapshot of the many stars of tomorrow that are the future of sports across our region.
Let us know who else you think deserved to be included in the comments.
Emerson Jones
Age: 16
Sport: Tennis
The teen sensation reached world no.1 ITF Junior ranking in September this year, having ended 2023 just outside the top 10. Jones won 33 of her 41 matches in 2024 including 18 of 21 on hard courts. She clinched her first professional title on the ITF World Tennis Tour at W75 Sydney in November
Taylor Burke
Age: 15
Sport: Tennis
A Runaway Bay product, Burke had a breakout year in 2024 with overseas success, winning her first ITF Junior Singles title at the J30 Petit Camp Phoenix in Mauritius in late September. She incredibly did not drop a set the entire week. Burke also finished her campaign as a finalist in the doubles.
Aurora Kovacevich
Age: 15
Sport: Hockey
A goal-scoring machine dominating age groups well above her own. Kovacevich was selected to represent Queensland U18s at just 15 and was the State Championship’s leading scorer. Her goals of becoming an Olympian are in no way far-fetched, especially given the Brisbane Games approaching - by which time the teen will be 23.
Charli Edwick
Age: 14
Sport: Mountain Bike
A Nerang SHS student in year 8, Edwickhas already set her sights on the Brisbane 2032 Olympics. The young gun has won every Rocky Trail Academy and Fox Superflow event she has attended with the school’s club and even taking out the senior category against athletes much older. Edwick was crowned Cross Country Olympic National champion every year since 2022 and recently brought home Gold for Queensland in the U15 criterium event at the Road Bike National Championships.
Kaelyn Passi
Age: 16
Sport: League & Rugby
A dual football code talent with a bright future, Passi excelled in rugby league for Burleigh U17s then for Queensland reds at the rugby Next Gen 7s tournament. She was also a star for Bond Uni in other 7s competitions throughout 2024. All this while still in year 11.
Eva Doblo
Age: 19
Sport: Rugby
Described as an unassuming livewire with speed and skills to take her far in the sport, Doblo boasts and Oztag background but found her calling in rugby. She was part of the history-making Bond Uni Premier Women’s side that claimed a three-peat premiership and is well on her way to cracking the pro field.
Sarina Masaga
Age: 19
Sport: League
Playing for Samoa, the Titans rookie impressed on debut scoring a double at right centre in the Pacific Championships clash against Fiji. She earned selection in Wide World of Sport’s rookie team of the year in 2024 and featured in three NRLW games for Gold Coast. Masaga is one three youngster recently announced to be re-signed for 2025 and 2026.
Arisa Trew
Age: 14
Sport: Skateboard
There’s no denying Trew is one of, if not the greatest junior talent of 2024, and the Gold Coast is glad to call her our own. The teenager left Paris with an Olympic gold swaying from her neck - no surprise - and was named the 2024 Laureus Action Sportsperson Award (an annual award honouring the achievements of individual athletes from the world of action sports).
Bridie Stewart
Age:16
Sport: Netball
A basketballer-come-netballer who had a breakout season with the Bond Bull Sharks Emerging squad, Stewart earned selection into her first Netball Queensland representative side (U17s) and is on track to compete at a maiden National Netball Championships. She was most recently announced as a member of Bond’s Ruby Series squad for the HART Premier League (HART Sapphire Series) in 2025.
Brooke Marchant
Age:18
Sport: Netball
Marchant made her international debut for Samoa at the recent Youth World Cup Qualifiers. The versatile shooter/ midcourt has been a member of the Gold Coast Titans Ruby Series squad since its inception in 2022.
Shelby McMahon
Age: 16
Sport: Football
Barely 16 year old, the junior Matildas star put pen to paper on a new three-year deal with Melbourne City after joining the club as an injury replacement for Holly McNamara in January. She quickly established herself as one of Australia’s brightest talents in the sport, scoring two goals in her maiden season.
Max Durrington
Age:17
Sport: Baseball
Max Durrington became one of Australia’s richest school kids in July when he penned an eye-watering MLB contract with the Oakland Athletics that included a handsome $AUD1.2 million signing bonus. If Durrington is able to surpass the Minor League grind and crack a Major League game, he would become Australia’s first second-generation MLB player, with his father Trent registering 140 games for the Anaheim Angels and Milwaukee Brewers. A talented batter, Durrington had already toured the US and tackled the might of a Kansas City Royals instructional team. He was also a talented rugby player before giving it away to focus on baseball and had been in the Queensland Reds under-15 academy.
Zane Harrison
Age: 18
Sport: League
Harrison stung together the perfect season in 2024, getting his hands on every piece of silverware available to him.
The halfback led Palm Beach Currumbin to the Langer Trophy and NRL National Schoolboys title, and the Tweed Seagulls to a Mal Meninga Cup premiership. He was awarded player of the match in all three finals. He capped off a scintillating showing in the national schoolboys final with a centimetre-perfect bomb that led to the match-winning try to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, and won Peter Sterling Medal for the best player in the NRL National Schoolboys Cup, and the Justin Hodges Medal for the best Langer Trophy player.
He has great defensive attributes, a superb kicking game and can steer the ship for his side in attack. In September, it was confirmed he had been elevated to the Gold Coast’s NRL squad as a full-time development player from 2025.
Sam Stephenson
Age: 18
Sport: League
Stephenson is the son of former NRL player Paul Stephenson, and is a powerful centre who hits and sticks with speed to burn.
Like Harrison, Stephenson will also join the Titans full-time development list from 2025 and he also starred in PBC’s Langer Trophy and NRL National Schoolboys triumphs. He also earned selection into the Australian Schoolboys and played a starring role when the team thrashed the France under-19s 56-6 at Burleigh, scoring two tries to cap off a great defensive showing.
Mason Barber
Age: 18
Sport: League
The Keebra Park product has moved north to Townsville after signing with the North Queensland Cowboys.
He made headlines at the ASSRL championships in the semi-final when he broke eight tackles in a single run to take the ball from one end of the field to the other for a magical try. Also represented the Australian Schoolboys earlier this year and excelled on the wing, with coach Ben White likening him to Greg Inglis at the same age.
Leo Lombard
Age: 18
Sport: AFL
Lombard capped off his exceptional underage Aussie rules career when the Suns selected him with pick 9 in the AFL draft last week. He had been in the club’s academy program since he was just 12 years old. Lombard famously played in Gold Coast’s VFL premiership last year when he was just 16 years of age and even snagged a goal in the grand final.
His underage footy resume is as good as they come, winning All Australian and carnival best and fairest honours playing for the Allies in his top age year at both the under-16 and under-18 national championships. He was also crowned Gold Coast’s male academy player of the year in 2024. Lombard sees himself as a half forward at AFL level that can swing into the midfield. He has power, speed and exceptional highlight reel of goals already. He’s well developed and could have an immediate impact for the Suns next year.
Taj Murray
Age: 15
Sport: Surfing
A resume boasting South Coast and Queensland representation in surf sports, Murray extended his list of accolades in 2025 to include U15 All Australian AFL and State Cross Country team selection. He was also a member of the PBC Surfing team which competed and won the Inaugural Australian Interschools Surfing Championships held on the Gold Coast.
Indy Cotton
Age: 17
Sport: Basketball
The 6’5 shooting guard represented Australia at the U17 World Cup in Turkey this year where he averaged 10 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists per game in 19 minutes at 56% shooting. The Southport local has already had a run at NBL1 level for the Gold Coast Rollers and donned the green and gold at three FIBA championships. He joined the famed Centre of Excellence in Canberra this year and will line up for TSS one last time at the Basketball Australia Schools Championships.
Billy Dowling
Age: 18
Sport: Golf
A rising golf talent, Dowling this year won the Pacific Harbour Amateur and South Australian Amateur, as well as finishing top 10 at both the Queensland PGA Championship and Webex Players Series South Australia.
David Bolongi
Age: 16
Sport: Soccer
The Gold Coast United junior and Gold Coast Knights academy talent has had a year to remember. He was called up to represent the Australia’s under-16s outfit, the Joeys, and netted a goal against the Switzerland under-16s while also featuring against Inter Milan’s under-17s.
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