Leo Lombard has won the 2024 StreetSmarts Male Academy Player of the Year award after standout seasons with the Gold Coast SUNS Academy and at VFL level.
Lombard has had a striking season in 2024, excelling at various levels of his game, including a season average of 17.5 disposals and 2.6 clearances.
The young midfielder won the prestigious Larke Medal as the best and fairest player in this year’s U18 National Championships, also sharing recognition with Academy teammate Zeke Uwland with selection in the 2024 Under 18 All Australian Team.
The honour comes after he played in the 2023 SUNS VFL premiership win as a 16-year-old and was also named as Allies U18 MVP for the in 2024.
Lombard played a substantial number of VFL games this season, with several impressive performances, one of these being against Coburg in Round 19, recording three goals, 22 disposals and six tackles.
Lombard joins a previous list of winners of Academy Player of the Year which includes Bodhi Uwland, Alana Gee, Connor Budarick, Jed Walter, Kiara Bischa and Teagan Levi.
