The Gold Coast SUNS’ AFL Academy stars will have the chance to showcase their skills in a marquee AFL Round in 2023 with an exhibition match penned in for the Gather Round in South Australia.

The 2023 AFL Academy squad includes three draft-eligible SUNS Academy products in Ethan Read, Jed Walter and Jake Rogers.

The trio, who took part in the Academy’s first training camp in Melbourne in December, will join their AFL Academy teammates in South Australia from Thursday, April 13.

A feature of the upcoming camp will be the AFL Academy playing an exhibition match as a curtain-closer to the Round 5 AFL game between the Brisbane Lions and North Melbourne at Adelaide Hills (Summit Sports and Recreation Park, Mount Barker) on Saturday, April 15.

An opponent will be confirmed shortly.

National Academy Manager, Tarkyn Lockyer, said: “We are thrilled to have the AFL Academy come together in South Australia and experience the excitement of Gather Round.

“The players selected in the AFL Academy represent the future of the AFL and we look forward to them putting their talents on show in front of South Australian football fans.

“Players in the AFL Academy take part in high performance and personal development programs which have been established to best prepare them for entry into elite football programs.”