We breakdown Gold Coast’s 2024 U18 men’s academy squad with an eye to the future
Gold Coast’s under-18 men’s academy is filled with hot commodities. We profile every player before all eyes turn to the national draft.
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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-18 men’s talents, with several on the cusp of AFL opportunities this year or next.
Earlier in the year, the academy played four Coates Talent League games and picked up one win, downing the Oakleigh Chargers by 57 points.
Discover the profiles of every player below, and catch up on the profiles of the under-18 women, under-16 boys and under-16 girls.
Archie Hill
The Broadbeach product is still under-16 eligible and featured in the under-16 national champs. He’s a running defender or winger with excellent endurance, and is also a good ball-user and an exciting player for his club.
Beau Addinsall
A very bright young talent. Was an All-Australian u16 last year and has progressed to the under-17 age bracket. Tied up with Broadbeach, he has great endurance, is a midfielder who can play forward and hits the scoreboard. He’s a smart high-end talent and is super consistent.
Ben Leeds
The Surfers Paradise product is an under-17 talent and a running defender or winger who is good overhead and a good ball-user.
Caleb Nancarrow
Hailing from Cairns, Nancarrow is a super athletic, key forward or ruck who is really good overhead. He’s also agile around the ground. A high-end talent.
Cooper Collins
The under-17 is a hybrid forward who can play high or deep. He’s a good goal-kicker, is good overhead, and is playing some good footy.
Cooper Hynes
Hynes is a wingman who can also play inside midfield, he’s a good ball-user, is smart, and had three goals and 14 disposals in a Coates League game against Dandenong Stingray earlier in the year.
Dylan Patterson
The under-17 was an All-Australian under-16. He has elite power and speed, is an excellent kick, can an play wing or midfield. One of the academies top talents.
Ethan Johnston
His season was marred by a stress fracture in his back but he’s tall and athletic ruck with a basketball background. He can also play forward and has plenty of potential.
Finlay Gray
The under-18 has missed a lot of footy over the past two years however he demonstrated that he could operate as a powerful key forward and is good overhead. Also had great tackle pressure and was consistent.
Harrison Gray
The under-17 was one of the most improved for the Suns. Has developed nicely into a hard running defender who can help on offence. He makes good decisions, is a good ball user, and shuts down his opponent.
Jai Murray
Murray was an All-Australian under-16 last year. He plays on the wing, often averages over 20 touches, hits the scoreboard, is a good ball-user, and consistent.
Jezz Butler
The North Queensland product is a super consistent small forward who brings great tackle pressure, power, speed, and can hit the scoreboard.
Joe Kennedy
Was part of the Suns academy last year and is a hybrid player, he can play up the ground or deep, is good overhead and hits the scoreboard. Broadbeach product.
Jonah Harris
The Burleigh ruckman is underage and his learning his craft still. He has size, is super powerful with good speed, and he’s athletically gifted. Played some pivotal roles for the Suns despite a lack of consistent opportunity.
Josh Watters
The small forward has his craft down pat and can hit the scoreboard, also has great IQ. The Coolangatta Tweed product is the son of former AFL player Scott Watters.
Kalani White
White is a tall and athletic key defender who can play forward or ruck. Is super athletic and an elite kick for his size.
Koby Coulson
Has been hampered with stress fractures, but is an aggressive inside midfielder who thrives at the contest and is a great tackle. Is a good kick.
Lachlan Cramp
the Burleigh product is an underage young run who possesses great speed. He can play on the wing or at half back.
Lachlan Gulbin
A great leader who was in the leadership group, Gublin had become accustomed to a high forward role. He has great power, speed, tackling and hits the scoreboard. Is a super important player.
Leonardo Lombard
Lombard made headlines last season when he played in Gold Coast’s VFL flag as a 16-year-old. He’s super aggressive and a great tackler and is a member of the AFL Academy. The midfielder is freakishly strong for his age and can play inside or outside roles.
Lucas Snowball
The top-age player missed the Academy squad last year but had great pre-season in 2024 to earn his spot. Has played VFL footy this season and is a small forward with smarts and great pressure.
Maddox Iverach
The Broadbeach talent has a good pre-season leading into the Academy and played every game out on the wing. He’s good overhead, is a great tackler and played his role well.
Matthew Hoy
The underage Labrador player is a small who can play up forward or down back. He puts pressure on his opponent and hurts teams with scoreboard pressure.
Max Cruse
The Palm Beach Currumbin running defender is really athletic and good overhead. He has good foot skills and was solid across the Suns Academy games.
Max Hudson
The underage key position player who hails from Broadbeach can play forward or down back. Provides aerial contests and is good overhead. His strength and ability to create up forward is a highlight of his game.
Max Marsh
The North Queensland boy who hails from BITS Saints is a good 1-on-1 defender who provides a good aerial contest.
Nelson Beikoff-Smart
The running defender is one of the academy’s best players. He’s an elite kick, a great decision-maker and sets up the offence coming out of the back half. Palm Beach Currumbin product
Oscar Wood
The Surfers Paradise key forward can also play in the ruck. Provides a good aerial contest and is a good ball-user.
Riley Clark
An underage ruck tied to Palm Beach Currumbin who can also play as a key forward. Put in some solid performances, with his strengths being his tap work and overall ruck craft.
Taj Lockett
A versatile tall who has the ability to play in numerous positions across the field, he’s a smart ball user who thrives in one-on-one contests.
Ty Fitzgerald
Known for his incredible pressure around the contest, a Patrick Cripps-like style of play while also being clean with the ball in hand marking overhead.
Zac Eckersley
Brings a strong aerobic capacity as an underage player and good football smarts with the ball in hand, while also showing a quick burst of speed.
Zai Millane
One of several Suns Academy members in the Allies squad, he reads the game supremely as a 1-on-1 defender and has earned opportunities with the Suns at VFL level. Related to the late Darren Millane, a former Collingwood premiership player.
Zeke Uwland
The younger brother of Suns AFL young gun Bodhi who recently penned a two-year contract extension, Zeke has a stronger aerobic capacity than his brother with a keen eye for goal as well. Has accumulated a handful of incredible outings in 2024 and is performing strongly for the Allies in his underage year.
Beau Lester-Sutherland
Has been hampered by injuries in his last two seasons, but has earned opportunities at VFL level on the back of his tackling pressure and work rate around the contest as an inside midfielder.
Ben O’Brien
A consistent cog for the Suns Academy who can play in both defence and forward if required. Has played games across two seasons in the VFL and has his eye set on studying law beyond school.
Charlie Elliott
A raking left foot not too dissimilar to former Lions defender Daniel Rich, Elliott has been a member of the Suns Academy for seven years and loves impacting the scoreboard.
Finn Hay
An excellent runner, smart ball-user who leads from the front. His clean use of the ball has earned him opportunities in the VFL. Away from footy, he’s a keen surfer.
Harry Sullivan
Has experience at Coates Talent League level for Sandringham and has shown consistency as a medium defender and on the wing in his 19th year.
Josh Zanker-Close
Zanker-Close has been hampered by a shoulder injury but is an exceptional reader of the play and shows incredible game smarts which has earned him VFL opportunities as a key defender
Matthew Evans
Is relatively new to Aussie rules and brings a unique set of skills from a basketball background into his roles as a ruck and key forward. Made his VFL debut against Southport in Round 7.
Nathan Kady
A consistent contributor across midfield and forward if required, he’s reliable as they come around the contest and has earned his chances in the VFL system.
Nick Francis
Hampered by injury in his draft year, Francis has played a handful of VFL games for the Suns. He boasts a beautiful kick and is excellent with his hands.
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Originally published as We breakdown Gold Coast’s 2024 U18 men’s academy squad with an eye to the future
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