For the first time in the club’s history, the Gold Coast SUNS are a strong chance to select a local Academy product when the national draft rolls around later in the year.

18-year-old Jack Bowes and 17-year-old Brad Scheer are highly touted prospects in their draft years and both are members of the elite NAB AFL Academy squads that recently travelled to Florida.

Scheer appeared a class above in the opening Academy Series game against the Brisbane Lions on Saturday, kicking three goals and accumulating possessions like they were going out of fashion to lead his side to a 15-point win.

“He was fantastic up at Burpengary, Brad,” GC SUNS Academy Head Coach Andrew Raines told SUNS TV.

“He had a really good game, he was taking some fantastic marks up forward when he was resting out of the midfield.

READ: Academy clean sweep on Raines' mind

“His clearance work was exceptional and he kicked three goals and would have had plus-20 possessions in a 20-minute quarters game so he had an outstanding performance.”

His teammate Bowes didn’t play in round one of the Academy Series with Academy staff erring on the side of caution with such a valuable commodity.

The Cairns product however appears likely to take the field in Friday’s clash against the Lions at Metricon Stadium.

“Jack missed. He’s got a bit of irritable joint with his knee at the moment but it’s coming on fine,” Raines said.

“He’s got a big year ahead so he could’ve played so it’s nothing serious but we’re just watching him as it goes and he’ll definitely play this weekend.”

Raines also was full of praise for two younger members of the Under 18 team after their performance in Burpengary.

While midfielder Jacob Dawson and ruckman Brayden Crossley aren’t eligible for the draft this year due to their age, their eye-catching performances definitely grabbed the attention of the Academy head coach.

READ: Acadmey series round 1 results

“Two of our bottom-aged boys, Jacob Dawson and Brayden Crossley, were outstanding in the midfield,” Raines said.

“Brayden’s a big ruckman, about 198 centimetres and he goes forward and kicks goals, probably the most aggressive of our big fellas and most of our boys in general so he was terrific.

“And Jacob’s stoppage work, he’s an inside midfielder and he was terrific also.

“Max Spencer, a 19-year-old, so we’ve got a couple of 19-year-old’s allowed in the system. He was really good off half-back.”