We breakdown Gold Coast’s 2024 U16 boys development squad with an eye to the future
With a focus on the 2026 AFL draft and beyond, we run the rule over the talent brewing in the Suns’ U16 boys academy. Read our profiles of the top prospects and discover every player’s strengths.
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From Northern New South Wales to Logan, Gladstone to Cape York, and the Darwin metropolitan area, the Suns academies span much of Australia’s north.
As a result, they also develop many of the its finest Aussie rules talents.
With an eye to the future, this masthead will be breaking down all of the 2024 Gold Coast academy squads, analysing the key traits of every player and identifying the sought after draft prospects.
Today, we run the rule over the Suns’ under-16 boys talents, with many gunning to be on an AFL list come 2026.
The group will play three matches throughout the under-16 National Development Championships, kicking off with their clash against the Lions on June 30.
Discover the profile of every player below, and catch up on our under-16 girls profiles here.
Brae Agrums
Agrums started playing senior footy this year, and is an athletic key defender. His dad Lucas Agrums played NBL in the 90s, and Ben is a Port Douglas junior.
Jack Barratt
Barratt is a running defender off half back with high-end speed, nice skills and a solid left foot kick. He’s a Coomera junior.
Blake Bebendorf
A pressure forward that plays his junior footy at Broadbeach, Bebendorf is really strong around the contest and plays a role similar to Nick Holman role.
Robert Braun
A Mackay City Hawks product, unfortunately Braun broke his collarbone, but he’s a high-end talent that will be a good player in time. A really talented small forward.
Jez Brindley
A solid small defender with nice skills who is clean and composed with the footy. The Burleigh junior works very hard and is a solid player.
Jake Callinan
An big-bodied inside midfielder, Callinan is a really nice kick of footy who has played state under-15s for Queensland. A strong contested ball winner, he has also been playing Colts for Surfers despite his youth.
Dylan Gardiner
Originally from North Queensland, Gardiner moved to Palm Beach last year. He’s a winger and was a state representative in the decathlon so it should come as no surprise that he has good speed and power. He’s still learning the footy caper in role, but he’s not a bad kick and good with ball in hand.
Cooper Glass
Glass is a Cairns boy who has already started playing seniors in Cairns this year. Can play on the wing or as a small forward, is a neat left foot kick, and has run several marathons.
Jesse Harding
A medium defender, it’s Harding’s first time in the Suns talent program. A lockdown and one-0n-one specialist, he’s been adding offence to his game and come a long way in the past six months.
Archie Hill
It’s been a big year for Hill, who has already played Coates Talent League games and made his QAFL debut at Broadbeach. The midfielder is a powerful runner who covers ground well and wins the footy inside and outside. He’s a super leader and the team grows when he’s in the side. It’s hoped he can lead the program in future.
Hugo Howard
A competitive inside midfielder that’s hard at it and head over footy all the time, Howard tackles strongly and does the grunt work.
Zac Jacobson
Has been hampered by injury, first an ankle and then a broken finger, but he’s an athletic winger or half back who can also play forward. Is strong overhead and has a nice skill set.
Jackson Jarvis
Jarvis was an All Australian under-15 ruckman, but has shifted down back this year. He’s competitive one-on-one, a good intercept mark, and uses the ball well. Had a really good year last year.
Lachlan Jeffs
The Townsville product is returning from a back injury. He’s a really composed left-footer that plays in the midfield or at half forward. A good natural footballer
Cooper Johnson
A tall who can play at both ends of the field, Johnson is a good mark and a nice kick. He also opens bowling for Southport in A-grade cricket and he’s a competitor.
Tyler Johnson
Johnson has played senior footy for the storeyed Yeppoon outfit that’s gunning for a tenth consecutive premiership this season. He’s super clean with his hands, and played inside for the Suns. Also a good decision-maker.
Leroy Kaesler
A Smart footballer with a high IQ, Kaesler has a good skill set. Can play half forward or inside midfield, and is competitive around the contest. Also a nice kick with time and space.
Ned Lawton
Unfortunately Lawton injured his shoulder in school footy and had to get a reconstruction. He brings great energy to the group and is a well respected leader. He would’ve played midfield for the Suns under-16s if fit, and can play forward or back. Is a strong chance to make the under-18 squad in the next few years.
Jake Marsh
Marsh was playing his footy in Cairns but has moved to Broadbeach. He’s a medium forward who has a good goal sense, and will often lay four or five tackles and hit the scoreboard despite not having a heap of possessions.
Isaac Mayne
Mayne had a massive campaign with the Suns having played state under-15s the year prior. He has good hands overhead, is a good decision-maker and came in leaps and bounds after a really strong pre-season.
Zayne Moore
Moore has enjoyed a strong senior campaign for Port Douglas this season and for him to break in to that side at 16 is a massive effort. He’s a nice mover off half back and good overhead. Uses the ball well out of the back half.
Taj Murray
Murray is only 15 and previously cracked the All Australian under-15 side when he was just 14. The winger is a powerful runner with speed and he covers ground well and wins the ball inside. His older brother Jai is in the Suns under-18s.
Sam Murray
Sam Murray is a developing tall who was playing forward for the Suns under-16s, as well as a little bit down back. He takes the ball at its highest point and is subsequently a good contested mark with a strong vertical leap.
Allan Sevara
Sevara hails from Papua New Guinea and is a small forward who plays like David Rodan. He doesn’t get knocked off his feet and has a low centre of gravity, as well as pace to burn and agility.
Blake Tissington
Tissington is an Airlie Beach product and the first player the Suns have had in a long time from Airlie. He’s a super competitive inside midfielder with good hands overhead. Very competitive.
Kodi Wallace
Wallace has been selected in the Queensland under-15s and the forward/midfielder has super speed and well as endurance.
Also has a good footy IQ, power, and foot skills.
Riley Weir
Weir is a left-footed small defender from Coolangatta with neat foot skills. A really reliable player.
Elijah Welsh
Welsh in a hardworking inside midfielder who makes it to contest after contest and gets the ball going forward. Is also a very talented cricketer.
Jesse Wenzel
Wenzel is a tall forward or ruckman who plays his footy at Broadbeach, floating between the Colts and under-17s. He has good athletic traits and has grown into his body. Is also good below his knees and covers ground well.
Under-17 Development List
Luke Chapman
Chapman had been training with the under-18s and has developed in leaps and bounds over the past 12 months. He’s a smart winger, who’s a good mark and has good skills.
Harry Heathcote
A versatile tall that can play at both ends, he’s athletic, has good hands overhead and is a good user by foot. Has really good traits.
Ethan Johnstone
Johnstone doubles as a high-level basketballer and stands at 203cm. Back issues have held him back but he’s a developing ruck who’s marking and kicking have improved out of sight. A really coachable player too.
Lachlan Jones
Jones came from Townsville 12 months ago but has been hampered by injury issues. A collarbone injury cost him his under-18s chance. He’s a wing or half back that covers ground well and has an elite skill set.
Ty Lockwood
The Tweed Coast Tigers product is also a high-level basketballer at The Southport School and has really developed. He stands at 195cm, is a good overhead mark and competitive. The ruckman can also get the ball around the ground.
Kane Peters
Peters is really competitive and can play forward or midfield, he’s strong around contest. The left foot kick has good penetration, works hard around footy, and is a physical presence. Was set back by an ankle injury.
Caleb Williams
Williams is an Indigenous small forward with high-end speed and burst who’s also a beautiful kick. Can play midfield as well and has nice traits.
Noah Young
Young is a great story after he was plucked out of division three under-15 last year. He’s a very coachable player who’s taken to the academy well. Plays medium forward, has good hands, and works hard to develop his game.
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