AFL Draft: Gold Coast Suns CEO Mark Evans laments changes to northern academy bidding from 2025

The contentious changes to academy bidding in 2025 are under the spotlight ahead of the AFL draft. Gold Coast CEO Mark Evans explains why the league needs more perspective.

Gold Coast Suns chief executive Mark Evans says the AFL is still riddled with inequalities despite the incoming changes to the academy and father-son bidding system.

As the best young Australian rules players prepare for the national draft in Melbourne on Wednesday, Gold Coast boss Evans has spoken out about the AFL’s decision to force clubs to give up more in order to match bids for their academy or father-son players.

Each pick in the draft has a points allocation and clubs have traditionally been granted a 20 per cent discount to match bids but that will be halved from 2025.

Evans, who earlier this year voiced his disapproval at weakening the advantage northern academies present, has called for more perspective before clubs cry foul and specific inequalities of the game are addressed in isolation.

“Every club can look at an issue for them that they think is unequal, but for mine you have to look at the entire system,” Evans said.

“There are inequalities everywhere.

“You can almost say that if you don’t have father sons, you travel a lot if you’re outside of Victoria, it’s harder to get free agents and players to be traded to you, it’s harder to retain players, there’s lots of things that make it a bit harder (for northern clubs).

“You shouldn’t just focus on the academy if you’re looking at equalisation.”

Gold Coast Suns Chief Executive Mark Evans speaks during the Gold Coast Suns community day and guernsey design launch. Picture: Chris Hyde/AFL Photos/via Getty Images.

The changes came on the back of the Suns picking up four highly talented academy players in 2023 including Jed Walter, Ethan Read, Will Graham and Jake Rogers.

It instigated calls from rivals who cried foul and the presence of projected top 10 AFL draft pick Leo Lombard is set to thrust the northern academies into the spotlight once again.

The Gold Coast Suns don’t have a selection in the draft until pick 39, but will be able to match a bid for academy product Lombard using draft value index points accrued from their stockpile of four selections between their first pick and 61.

Evans noted that there should be more reward for clubs who develop players in the northern academies.

He was also quick to point out that given the Suns are a newer club going into their 15th season, they are still a “long way off” having access to father-son prospects that established clubs can continuously benefit from.

Jed Walter of the Suns celebrates a goal during the 2024 AFL Round 22 match. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

“There’s a lot of work that goes into keeping kids and families connected to the sport, one of the ways to do that is through talent programs,” he said.

“If they’re then good enough to get there, ideally they then stay and play for that team which creates more local interest, that’s the benefit.

“But it also is a slight counteractive measure against the issues that clubs face if they’re outside of traditional states. It’s harder to retain players (as) they’re away from family and friends so you need something that tips the balance back our way.”

Defender Bodhi Uwland is the greatest success story from the Suns academy thus far, having grown up supporting the club and being developed in its pathway, he went on to finish second in the club best and fairest this season.

His younger brother Zeke has a greater aerobic capacity and can push higher up the ground, he is touted as a possible number one pick in next year’s draft who has been developed by the Suns academy and will be targeted by the club.

Originally published as AFL Draft: Gold Coast Suns CEO Mark Evans laments changes to northern academy bidding from 2025