AFL Draft watch: Meet the stars of the Suns under-16 boys academy
With a focus on the 2027 AFL Draft and beyond, we have analysed every talent currently in the Gold Coast Suns under-16 boys academy squad. Get the inside word on every member of the squad here.
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The next generation of Gold Coast Suns under-16 stars will take to the field this month in the AFL National Development Championships.
In our ongoing series, we are shining a light on all the players in the under-16 and under-18 Suns Academy squads.
This week, we have run the rule over every Suns under-16 boys player with in-depth analysis of the future AFL stars’ strengths.
Check out our squad breakdown with details on every player in the squad below.
Archie Atkinson (Surfers Paradise)
Atkinson is running defender with impressive athleticism and ball skills.
His impressive mix of speed and power makes him an exciting presence in the backline.
Atkinson’s kicking ability creates several counterattacking opportunities and he continues to improve each week in the program.
Oliver Bennett (Brothers Rockhampton)
Bennett is an inside mid who is strong around the contest and has the speed to break away and be involved in possession chains.
He is a strong competitor and professional in his approach.
Cameron Burgess (Broadbeach)
A medium defender who is strong overhead and is a good user of the ball by foot.
Burgess can play on a range of opponents and sets the team up efficiently coming out of defence.
Cameron Camenzind (Burleigh)
An athletic player who can play a range of roles in defence or the midfield.
He has impressive speed and power and is strong in the contest.
Since his time in the academy, Camenzind’s kicking ability has gone through the roof.
Harry Cloke (Broadbeach)
The bottom-age player has come off the back of a long-term injury but has quickly made up for lost time with his professionalism in training and attention to detail.
He is strong-bodied and can play several roles for the team
Paddy Fitzgibbon (Palm Beach Currumbin)
Fitzgibbon is an electric midfielder and small forward.
The bottom-age gun has good ball skills and is rarely knocked off his feet.
He brings an incredible competitive nature and was also selected in the Queensland under-15 squad.
Jackson Frost (Broadbeach)
Frost is a small forward with electric speed.
He has a strong goal sense, has improved his clean hands and applies plenty of pressure.
Zac Gale (Palm Beach Currumbin)
Gale is a medium hit up forward who plays with strong effort and intent.
He is strong overhead and can take strong contested marks.
Gale’s athleticism makes him a difficult match up for opposition defences.
Cooper Glass (Labrador)
Glass is a left-footed winger who moved from Cairns this year.
He brings elite endurance and covers the ground well.
Glass makes good decisions with ball in hand and has a neat skill set.
Xavier Gonthier (Sherwood)
Gonthier is an athletic medium utility who has shown plenty of promise.
His power and ability to weave through traffic is a game-changer.
He is creative with the ball in hand and has improved his defensive pressure immensely.
Andre Gray (Broadbeach)
A key defender who is strong aerially and provides a contest at all times. Has added the capacity to run and carry and provide some rebound. Has improved his marking and is a strong competitor down back.
Klae Green (Labrador)
Exciting player who loves to run and carry and take the game on at all times.
Green has good speed and looks at his best across half back or through the midfield.
He also has a knack of finding ways to hit the scoreboard.
Ben Grimster (Palm Beach Currumbin)
Grimster is an exciting player who moved to the wing this year.
He has quickly gained a strong understanding of his new role and is an elite player overhead and around the contest.
Josh Hall (Southport)
Hall is another talent with a mix of speed and power.
He originally started as a midfielder but has moved forward and has been a class above in attack.
He can take a strong overhead mark and is a perennial goal threat with his rapid pace.
Nixon Houlihan (Broadbeach)
Houlihan is a hard inside midfielder who loves the physicality of the contest.
He provides strong pressure and keeps his head over the ball.
Jordan Kaesler (Burleigh)
Kaesler is an exciting bottom-age prospect who was Player of the Carnival at the recent State Under 15 Championships.
The inside mid/forward has good athletic traits and a high football IQ.
Harrison King (Burleigh)
A developing ruck who is improving by the week.
He regularly gets first hands on the ball at centre bounces and is improving his fundamental skills by the week.
Oscar King (Broadbeach)
A tall who recently relocated to the Gold Coast after a year in Melbourne in the Oakleigh Chargers program.
The left-footer takes the ball at the highest point and has strong athletic traits.
Xavier Lalic (Labrador)
A left-footed half back/wing who has strong hands overhead.
He has an impressive tank and can run all day.
Lalic can change angles but foot up open the game up for him and his teammates.
Travis Larkins (Cairns Saints)
A developing ruck from Cairns who competes and works hard for the entire game.
He is athletic and can win the ball at ground level as well as overhead.
Jake Marsh (Broadbeach)
Marsh is a medium forward who has the capacity to push through the midfield.
He is the quickest player in the squad and has good nous around the goals.
Marsh often breaks the game open with his burst from the contest and can hit targets inside 50 with ease.
Jayden Matterson (Southport)
A mid/forward with a penetrating kick, Matterson is able to cover distance quickly in the air by foot and has improved his contest work.
He has had a strong impact around the stoppages and is one of the biggest improvers in the squad.
Cooper Motum (Sherwood)
A key forward who hits up hard at the foot and is a booming kick for goal.
Motum has good hands overhead and provides a strong target inside forward 50.
He is quick off the mark and creates a strong contest.
Taj Murray (Burleigh)
An exciting midfielder who is currently sidelined with injury.
He had a strong under-18s program where he performed well on the wing in Coates League games.
He is a serial ball winner with his mix of pace and power.
Harry Nielsen (Broadbeach)
A hard working midfielder who is able to win the ball on the inside and outside.
He has an amazing running ability and provides strong defensive pressure and competes well.
Tom O’Brien (Southport)
O’Brien is a key defender who suffered an injury in a practice game and unlikely to play in the carnival.
He reads the play well, is strong overhead and makes good decisions with ball in hand.
Bryce Schellebeck (BITS Saints)
A medium defender from Boyne Island who has good speed and agility and can play on a wide range of opponents.
He keeps it simple with ball in hand and uses the ball well by foot.
Mac Seebeck (Burleigh)
A 200cm ruck/forward who will be part of the Queensland Under 15s team this year.
He has great football IQ, competes well in the air and at ground level and kicks the ball well. Seebeck gives the midfielders first look at the ball consistently.
Kobe Skinner (Broadbeach)
Skinner is a small defender who is tenacious in his approach to his game.
He competes strongly and prides himself on winning his one-on-ones.
He is neat by foot and rarely misses a target.
Jaden Smith (Labrador)
A tall defender who has good speed for his size.
Smith is strong in the contest and never quits.
He is improving his ball use and can provide some run out of the back half as well.
Sam Spearing (BITS Saints)
A small defender/winger with great pace and kicks the ball well.
He provides some bounce and rebound out of the defensive half and has good hands overhead.
Cody Teece (Palm Beach Currumbin)
A midfielder great speed, power and endurance.
Teece can win the ball from the contest and explode to the outside with scintillating pace.
He can also hit the scoreboard and is a high impact player.
Blake Thompson (Southport)
A super reliable medium defender who competes well aerially and has shown good ability to win and use the ball out of defence.
He can play on small or medium players and competes strongly in the contest.
Kodi Wallace (Burleigh)
Wallace was a member of the under-18s squad this year but will miss the carnival with injury.
He is a small forward/midfielder who has excellent skills and high footy IQ.
Cooper Wanders (South Cairns)
A left-footed defender from Cairns with high end speed and agility.
He finds space where there is none and is able to execute the difficult kicks well.
He is often involved in handball chains and loves to run and carry.
Oliver Watters (Tweed Coolangatta)
A combative inside mid who hits the ball with real intent.
He has a strong ability to get first hands on the ball at stoppages and is picking up more possessions across the ground now.
He can also take a good mark for his size.
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