The Gold Coast SUNS Academy has dominated the 2023 AFL Under 16 All Australian Boys team, selected following the conclusion of this year’s AFL National Development Championships.
No less than five Academy prospects were named in the 23-player squad, only matched by Division champions Vic Metro.
Zeke Uwland, younger brother of SUNS AFL defender Bodhi, and Dylan Patterson were named on the wings, Jai Murray and Beau Addinsall earned selection on the respective half-forward flanks while Kalani White was named at centre-half back.
Uwland’s best game came against the Swans Academy during which he picked up 29 disposals and kicked three goals while Patterson added plenty of danger to the SUNS attack from the wing, averaging 13 disposals.
At half-forward, Murray was the top-rated tackler across both divisions, averaging eight a game to go with 22 touches Addinsall was a standout in Pool B, taking home the Alan McLean Medal and SUNS Academy MVP award with his best game coming against Tasmania in which he kicked five goals.
White, standing at a daunting 197cm as a 16-year-old showed off his abilities at both ends of the field and took a number of eye-catching marks.
The SUNS Academy won two of its three outings at the tournament, comfortably defeating both Tasmania and the Swans Academy.