State on the rise: Looking at Queensland’s best AFL and AFLW footy talents by region

From Jason Dunstall to Serene Watson, Queensland has produced some top AFL and AFLW talents … and the list is growing very fast.

FROM Jason Dunstall to Serene Watson, Queensland has produced some top AFL and AFLW talents … and the list is growing very fast.

CAIRNS

Jack Bowes: Born and raised in Cairns, Bowes made his senior debut for Cairns FC at 16 in 2014. He joined the SUNS academy aged 13 and relocated to the Gold Coast in 2015.

Jack Bowes. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Kitara Whap-Farrar: One of the Suns’ first ever AFLW signings, Farrar dominated the AFL Cairns Women’s competition for years with South Cairns. A dashing half-back with great foot skills.

Jarrod Harbrow: The SUNS’ games record holder, Harbrow has now played almost 250 games across his career with the Gold Coast and Western Bulldogs. He played his junior football with Manunda Hawks and senior football with South Cairns.

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TOWNSVILLE

Bree Koenen: Was born and raised on Magnetic Island – just off the coast of Townsville – where she played for the local club Magnetic Island Magpies. Now, she is one of the Brisbane Lions’ most dependable players.

Josh Jenkins: Played NBL basketball with Townsville but also played junior football in the region before moving to Victoria. He joined Adelaide in 2012 and kicked 296 goals from his 147 games with the club.

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Ellie Hampson: Another of the Suns’ first ever AFL signings, Hampson played football with Hermit Park in the AFL Townsville Women’s competition where she emerged as a talented midfielder with a long kick.

MACKAY

Lauren Bella: A talented netballer as a junior, Bella began playing football with Baker Creek in the local competition in 2017 and joined the Suns developmental academy in 2018.

Lauren Bella of the Suns. Picture: Chris Hyde/AFL Photos/Getty Images

David Armitage: Was born in Mackay and played for the Eastern Swans in the local competition where he made his senior debut at 14. He would go on to play 169 games for St Kilda across his 13-year career.

CAPRICORNIA

Zac Smith: His family moved to Rockhampton when he was 10 and began playing football at North Rockhampton SHS at 16 and was quickly invited to join the AFLQ rookie search program.

WIDE BAY

Emma Zielke: The Brisbane Lions’ AFLW captain was born and raised in Bundaberg but began playing football in Brisbane for Morningside. She has gone on to play 25 games for the Lions at AFLW level.

Brett Backwell: Backwell played football for Hervey Bay and the Northern Eagles in the Wide Bay competition before moving to Brisbane where he was drafted to Carlton in 1997. He played 18 games at AFL level but 112 for Glenelg in the SANFL.

SUNSHINE COAST

Eric Hipwood: Played or Caloundra as a junior and joined the Brisbane Lions Academy shortly after. He was drafted in the 2015 draft by the Lions and has gone on to play over 70 games so far.

Eric Hipwood (centre) of the Lions. Picture: AAP Image/Darren England

Shannon Campbell: A Maroochydore junior, Campbell is pone of many AFLW players to hail from the Sunshine Coast. She joined Brisbane as a free agent following the 2016 AFL Draft.

BRISBANE NORTH

Harris Andrews: An Aspley junior, Harris was overlooked by every representative team as a junior player but persisted and emerged after he kicked 80 goals in 17 games as an under-18.

Ally Anderson: Played her junior football for Zillmere where she won several best and fairest awards. She has gone on to play 25+ games for Brisbane at AFLW where she was named an All Australian in 2019.

BRISBANE SOUTH

Mabior Chol: Was born in South Sudan who fled to Egypt at two years old. They soon moved to Australia in 2005 and at age 12, began playing football for Yeronga South Brisbane. He has since played 10 games for Richmond.

Emily Bates: Bates has played football at Yeronga for her entire career – the same club her dad played for – and began playing senior football in around 2017. She has played 25 games for the Lions at AFLW and won the club best and fairest in 2017.

Jason Dunstall: Graduated from Coorparoo to become a Hawthorn champion and is one of only a handful of AFL players to boot more than 1000 goals.

Hawthorn's Jason Dunstall.

DARLING DOWNS

Wylie Buzza: Was born and rained in Gatton where he began playing football before playing senior football with Mt Gravatt. He was drafted to Geelong in 2016 where he played nine games before moving to Port Adelaide at the end of 2019.

Brad Howard: Howard was Toowoomba junior and was drafted by St Kilda with their second pick in the 2006 AFL Draft. He would play two games for the Saints before starring for Casey Demons and Sandringham in the VFL and Redland in the NEAFL.

GOLD COAST

Nick Riewoldt: He moved to the Gold Coast when he was nine and played football for Southport. He was the first overall pick in the 2000 AFL Drat and would go on to play 336 games for St Kilda – a club that he captained for a decade.

Dayne Zorko: Overlooked in a number of drafts, Zorko began his career at Broadbeach where he won countless best and fairests. He finally got his chance as a zone selection with Brisbane and has gone on to play nearly 200 games for the Lions.

Serene Watson: Watson was the Suns’ first draft choice in 2017 and has gone onto play every AFLW game so far. She began playing junior football for Broadbeach after moving to the Gold Coast from Sydney at eight.

Serene Watson of the Suns. Picture: Chris Hyde/AFL Photos/Getty Images

MT ISA

Charlie Cameron: Was born in Mt Isa but went to school on Mornington Island and Marist College Ashgrove in Brisbane where he boarded where he began playing football. He has playing over 100 AFL games with Adelaide and Brisbane and was named an All Australian in 2019.