AFLW Draft Watch: Inside word on all 32 players in the Gold Coast Suns under-18 girls academy squad
With an eye on the 2025 and 2026 AFLW Drafts, we have analysed all the Gold Coast Suns AFLW draft prospects currently making their mark in the under-18 girls Suns Academy.
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From the sister of current AFLW stars, to the daughter of a former Carlton and St Kilda gun, this year’s Gold Coast Suns under-18 girls academy squad is stacked.
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-18 girls 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.
Stephanie Aguinaldo
Aguinaldo is an incredibly versatile talent who was a force to be reckoned with at under-16 level last year.
She is a developing defender who has explosive closing speed.
She has shown enormous promise and was rewarded for her development with Queensland selection as a bottom age player.
Keely Andrews
A North Queensland footballer who showed strong contested work in the back half.
She can turn defence into offence in the blink of an eye with her strong transition kicking game.
Summer Browning
An athletic hard-running wing who makes the ground big and uses the ball well by foot.
She was rewarded for a strong season through Queensland selection as a bottom age player.
Maddie Campbell
A classy left foot kick who can appear as if she has time even when in the contest.
Hailing from North Queensland, Campbell moved onto the wing late in the program and used the ball well on the outside.
Ellie Da Ros
A highly athletic ruck/key forward who can be equally as dangerous when the ball hits the ground. As a bottom age player her development this year was rapid.
Lacey Dutton
A slippery small forward who is able to find space and is dangerous around goals when given a chance.
Heidi Grimster
A clever and uncompromising rebounding defender who grew in confidence as the season progressed.
She uses the ball very well to change angles and is set up for a big 2026.
Eva Hooper
A hard edge North Queensland prospect who can play a multitude of positions from midfield, to the wing, or even half back.
She is a strong presence around the contest.
Jessica Large
An explosive wing who when finds space is able to use the ball very well.
Her electrifying speed and run down tackles make her a game changer.
Along with Large’s explosiveness, her workrate is elite and is an exciting prospect.
Isabella Lyons
A netball convert who has had an injury interrupted season, however has shown through her professionalism that she can still develop in multiple ways.
She will be an exciting watch when she returns in 2026.
Jesse Sewell
Her ability to close space quickly as a small defender is a real weapon.
She rarely loses a one-on-one contest when the ball is on the ground and is able to the transfer the ball out of defence through her handball chain.
Chelsea Smyth
A dangerous forward who kicked four goals against Bond University in a practice match.
She can create opoprtunities out of nothing and finds space with ease.
Natalie Whatman
A tough and uncompromising half back who is strong in the contest.
She applies smart use of her body off ball to proactively position herself relative to her opponent.
Georja Davies
One of the most exciting prospects heading into this year’s draft.
Davies is the younger sister of AFLW players Giselle, Fleur and Darcie and will look to follow in their footsteps at the top level.
Davies is a tall utility who has transitioned from playing as a ruck to a dynamic midfielder and centre halfback.
She has a strong ability to read the play defensively and takes intercept marks with ease.
Her work rate is elite as she boasts strong GPS figures and is a crucial player in transition.
Lily-Ann Ryder
A talented key defender who was able to curtail multiple top prospect forwards in the Coates League.
Her ability to intercept mark then set up the offence was a real highlight.
Neive Ryan
A rebounding defender who has a nice kick.
Ryan has the ability to transfer play through changing angles.
Aleah Stringer
A high half forward who can also play in the midfield.
She is clever with the ball in hand and often picks off kicks others won’t.
Stringer is an exciting impact player who is a real game-changer.
Sunny Lappin
The daughter of former AFL player and current Southport Sharks QAFLW coach Matt Lappin, Sunny Lappin has been a rising prospect for several years.
She has a multitude of kick types which are often highly effective.
Her real strength is her ability to connect play by hand by releasing to dangerous shape players.
Lappin is an extremely clever footballer and is also dangerous around goal.
She also earned selection for the All Stars side which took on the AFL National Academy earlier this year.
Mikayla Nurse
A powerful and explosive wing turned midfielder.
Throughout the season, she could break free from congestion after winning the ball in the contest with ease and kicked two goals from 40m against the Brisbane Lions.
Annabelle Foat
A clever inside midfielder who shows poise on the field with ball in hand, while also showing strong defensive traits.
Foat was best on ground for the All-Stars against the AFL Academy.
Dakota Baron
A dominant key forward who did not play this year due to injury.
She is a very exciting prospect due to her strong contested marking and ability to kick goals from distance consistently.
Ava Usher
As explosive as they come with an equally dangerous kick.
She missed the season due to injury but demonstrated a professional approach to her recovery and is an exciting prospect for years to come.
Usher regularly dominates the clearances and has a damaging mix of pace and power in her arsenal.
Scarlett Featherstone
A small forward who runs very good patterns.
She hit the scoreboard on multiple occasions throughout the year including four goals against NSW Academies.
Amelia Ella
A tough and smart small forward who kicked multiple highlight reel goals thanks to her strong running patterns and uncompromising commitment to the contest.
Her repeat efforts and bodywork are some of her biggest strengths.
Millar Brosnan-Ball
A powerful ruck who uses her body effectively in the aerial dual, while also now impacting at ground level.
She has shown some positive signs of development, as she now takes more intercept marks thank before.
Her ability to force turnovers has made her a promising prospect.
Alicia Gordon
A high marking half back who uses the ball well by foot.
She is poised in defence and can set up the play through her defensive connections.
Rhianna Ingram
Averaged near 25 possessions per game as a rebounding defender.
She connects to the game really well which results in intercepting play which then begins the offensive chain.
Ingram was one of the standout performers for the Suns this year.
Jessica McLean
One of the most coachable athletes you will encounter.
Mclean is a hard running wing who has developed immensely across the past 12 months and became a pivotal component of the team.
Sienna Burnham
Using her distance running background, Burnham covers the field better than most.
She is strong on the inside of the contest, however once she is able to get on the outside she is rarely caught and uses the ball well.
Alannah Welsh
A dangerous forward who has a multitude of kick types that can hurt you around goal.
She can play tall or small and will hit the scoreboard regardless of which role she plays.
Welsh was often outnumbered in the aerial contest throughout the year having to play key forward yet still found a way to win possession.
Bronte Parker
A tackling machine who started to really develop her outside game through hard work on her kicking.
Parker finished the season in style, dominating against the Eastern Ranges with her outside spread and kick before injury finished her season early.
Chloe Smith
A hard running wing who runs good patterns and works hard to support defensively.
She has a very professional approach to being an athlete.
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