Bodhi Uwland was one of the best SUNS afield after collecting 19 disposals at 89 percent efficiency in the club’s 11-point win in front of 21,759 fans at People First Stadium.
Uwland is a born and bred Gold Coaster who played his junior football for the Burleigh Bombers before joining the Broadbeach Cats as a senior.
He was drafted by the SUNS in 2021 as a Pre-Listed Rookie after winning the SUNS Academy Player of the Year at the Club Champion that season.
In 2024 Uwland has established himself as a regular at AFL level under Damien Hardwick, playing 10 games as a tough medium defender.
The 20-year-old is averaging three rebound 50s, 4.5 intercepts, and 4.3 marks per game, and has gone head-to-head with some star forwards of the competition including Charlie Cameron, Shai Bolton, Izak Rankine and Jake Stringer.
2024 is Uwland’s third year at the SUNS, with his debut season being cut short by injury due to stress fractures in his back, which saw him spend nine months in a back brace for 23 hours per day.
During his rehabilitation in 2022, Uwland amassed more than 3,000km on the stationary bike in the Gold Coast SUNS' heat room.
Uwland is the second SUNS player to be nominated for the Rising Star this season, joining fellow SUNS Academy graduate Jake Rogers (Round Seven).
His younger brother, Zeke Uwland, is currently a member of the SUNS Academy and played for the Allies in the Marsh AFL National Championships – U18 boys yesterday. The younger Uwland had 30 disposals and kicked a goal and will be eligible to be drafted in 2025.
2024 AFL Rising Star nominees:
OR: Matt Roberts (Sydney Swans)
R1: Ollie Dempsey (Geelong Cats)
R2: George Wardlaw (North Melbourne)
R3: Harvey Gallagher (Western Bulldogs)
R4: Sam Darcy (Western Bulldogs)
R5: Harley Reid (West Coast Eagles)
R6: Darcy Wilson (St Kilda)
R7: Jake Rogers (Gold Coast SUNS)
R8: Caleb Windsor (Melbourne)
R9: Colby McKercher (North Melbourne)
R10: Kai Lohmann (Brisbane Lions)
R11: Harvey Harrison (Collingwood)
R12: Bodhi Uwland (Gold Coast SUNS)
