Gold Coast’s 19 talents to watch in 2019
They are the future of Gold Coast sport, the young guns we are set to hear a lot more about.
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THEY are the future of Gold Coast sport, the young guns we are set to hear a lot more about.
JAYLEN CHAN-TUNG
After only playing his first game of gridiron this year Jaylen Chan-Tung, 17, is set to take the US by storm in 2019.
The 203cm tall Keebra High product joined in training with a US team when they were in Australia and within six days was on a plane to Utah for a training camp.
In July he’ll be head to Snow College in Utah then to go on to the University of Utah, who have a division one team, after being offered a scholarship.
TAI SACH
The 16-year-old will kickstart his 2019 off with the Junior Australian Open after being crowned the under-16 champion this year.
He’s one of Australia’s up and coming tennis stars having represented Australia at the Junior Davis in Budapest and reached the singles semi final and doubles final at the ITF3 Ockel Tournament in the Netherlands.
JOSH KANN
The 18-year-old all-rounder was a revelation for Queensland at the National Under-19 Championships in Adelaide last month, earning Australian selection with 228 lower-order runs at 32.57 and 11 wickets at 20.7.
In his second season of first grade at the Gold Coast Dolphins, he will now prepare for three one-day matches (January 3, 5 and 7) and a three-day fixture (January 10-12) in Sri Lanka with the national under-19 side.
CARLY FULLER
After starting her first season with the Gold Coast Dolphins in the middle order, Fuller exploded into life after being given the chance to open the batting in Twenty20 fixtures.
In six T20 bats, the Queensland indigenous women’s representative amassed 293 runs at an average of 73.25 — including three half-centuries - and has an overall season tally of 339 runs at 37.67.
ISSY TAYLOR
Earlier this year junior golfer Issy Taylor told the Bulletin it was her dream to go to college in the US in 2019.
We’re pleased to report that she’s going to do just that.
After being crowned the Queensland Junior State Champion and finishing third on the Golf Australia Order of Merit (girls) in 2018, Taylor has been signed with Oregon State University to join their golf program for the 2019 season.
JESSIE COTTELL
After a strong 2018 where she claimed the under-18 singles title at the Australian Open, Jessie Cottell was named in the emerging Jackaroos squad.
Having also taken out the prestigious Junior Golden Nugget and been named the Bowls Australia female junior bowler of the year, big things are expected from the 18-year-old with dreams of continuing her success into the senior ranks.
PAIGE PARKER
The top selection at the AFLW draft in October, the Gold Coast Suns academy graduate will now have the opportunity to showcase her talents on the biggest stage with the Brisbane Lions in 2019.
Parker, taken with pick 9 by the Lions, spent two years training with the Lions while also crafting her game through the Suns academy after making the switch from representative touch football.
It was Parker’s ability to take it to the two-time AFLW grand finalists during the Winter Series for Gold Coast that convinced Brisbane coach Craig Starcevich she was worth listing.
CHARLOTTE DERBYSHIRE
The newest member of Triathlon Australia’s Gold Coast-based high performance squad. Derbyshire won the youth and junior national titles in consecutive years before representing Australia at the Youth Olympics where she placed 18th.
Coach Dan Atkins rated the 17-year-old one of the most talented and raw athletes he has seen come through the ranks.
With some fine tuning of her technique across the three disciplines of swimming, riding and running, Derbyshire could be a force to be reckoned with in 2019.
CONNOR BUDARICK
The 17-year-old is one of the best players coming into their draft year from the Gold Coast Suns academy.
Budarick, a Labrador player who is also an Allies hub member, could become the next Gold Coast product to find themselves in the AFL.
Budarick has played some great football as a bottom-ager in the under-18 Allies side while he was also an under-16 All Australian representative.
He holds his own at QAF level, is explosive and highly skilled.
ANDREW PARK
The former South Korean has taking his golf to another level since moving to the Gold Coast four years ago.
Park won the 15-and-under division of the 2019 Greg Norman Junior Masters in what was his second win at the tournament in as many years.
The Burleigh Golf Club member dreams of playing on the PGA Tour in the U.S. one day and is already playing off a handicap of one.
Fellow Gold Coast golfer Elvis Smylie, 16, is right up there with Park after an incredible year where he finished runner-up in the Aaron Baddeley International Junior Championships in the U.S., won all three of his matches for Queensland in a State of Origin series against NSW, won the Tasmanian Junior Masters and finished second in the Gary Player Classic.
CARLY FRATER-HILL
The Scottish jockey is not your average apprentice and is shaking things up on the Gold Coast.
Frater-Hill, 30, is tied for the lead in the Gold Coast apprentice jockeys premiership on seven wins with Clayton Gallagher.
She arrived on the coast at the end of July after riding almost 100 winners in country NSW. Frater-Hill outrode her claim there but she boasts a 3kg claim for provincial tracks in Queensland, making her a bright prospect for any trainer given her experience.
OSKAR DILLON
A vital cog in the Gold Coast Knights side that won last year’s Premier League double, the 19-year-old defender’s off-season has been marred by a backflip on his Gold Coast United deal.
But with his future sorted, Dillon will have the chance to continue his rise in the Knights’ maiden NPL campaign in 2019.
Many good judges believe it could be another step on a journey to the A-League.
GEORGIA ELLISTON
A product of Palm Beach Currumbin High School’s Football Excellence Program, the 18-year-old attacker spent part of her off-season trialling with W-League powerhouse Canberra United.
While she ultimately missed out on a contract, the 2017 Queensland Schoolgirls representative will be looking to make more headway with Gold Coast United in this year’s NPL Women’s.
WILL MATHISON
The Mermaid Waters teen continues to trace his siblings’ footsteps after last year following sisters Morgan and Lindsay to Australian schools selection.
Mathison also helped Queensland claim School Sport Australia’s national under-16 title last August, before helping Burleigh reach the preliminary final of Gold Coast Hockey’s men’s division 1.
JENNA STRAUCH
After a debilitating illness in 2015, swimmer Jenna Strauch, 21, is back in business. In December 2018 Strauch was selected for her first senior team and swam at the World Short Course in China. The breastroker now has her eye on Tokyo.
JUWAN COMPAIN
The 17-year-old second-rower is destined for big things after a stellar 2018. Compain lead Palm Beach Currumbin to take out the Schoolboy Cup national final, before playing in the Australian Schoolboys team in their UK tour. He was also signed by the Gold Coast Titans for their new Elite Development Squad and was selected in the under-18 emerging Origin squad.
SEBASTIAN WINTERS-CHANG
The Keebra product played in the under-18 emerging Origin squad and the Queensland Schools team at the National Championships. The Bulletin counted Winters-Chang in the top 20 best rugby league players of 2018 and said he’s definitely one to watch in the future.
CAMPBELL PARATA
The 18-year-old is on the road to a succesful rugby career, having signed with the Crusaders to train in the Tasman academy with one of his short term goals to make the NZ under-20s. Parata has previously played for the Australian schoolboys side, but wasn’t considered in 2018 due to his upcoming Crusaders committments.
BAY WILDIN-SNEDDEN
The Kurrawa Surf Club member was part of the team came first in several events at the Australian Open, including the under-19 female board relay and open female single ski relay. Personally she claimed top spot in the under-19 female surf race, as well as several silvers. Having finished 9th in her first ironwoman in 2017, Wildin-Sneddin is one to watch in the surf with the ultimate goal of making an Australian World’s teams.
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