The Gold Coast SUNS Academy have been well represented in the Queensland Under 18 state squad this year with 19 of the 34 players coming from the glitter strip.
“It was a fair effort in the end to get 19 over the line,” academy coach Andrew Raines told SUNS TV on Wednesday.
“34 obviously it’s a big list in the Queensland team. We’ve got the majority, which is great, and I suppose just a bit of reward for the performance the boys put in over that two game series and won both games.
“The performance was there and they deserved to get in the side.”
The SUNS Academy achieved a clean sweep of the two-game Academy series against the Brisbane Lions Academy, winning game two by 12 points at Metricon Stadium on March 11 in a tight, scrappy affair 8.12 (60) to 7.6 (48).
Brodie Foster was named best on ground in that game and Raines was full of praise for his young protégé.
“He’s sort of a midfielder, bottom-aged boy so he’s only 17. But he played a really big role down back,” he said.
READ: Young guns impressing in Academy Series
“Small defender, and just rebounding defender with Maxy Spencer so they were fantastic for us all night.”
For the 19 SUNS Academy players selected to wear the maroon, their state duties commence shortly with three practice games scheduled against Victoria opposition before the NAB AFL Under 18 championships begin on Sunday May 8 in Blacktown.
“The boys will obviously play in their Queensland state team, they’ve got a couple of practice games,” Raines said.
“When we say practice games they’re obviously playing for their future in terms of trying to stand out and get drafted, but yeah they’ll play three practice games; Vic Country and two TAC Cup teams.
“Then have a little break and into their national championships against New South Wales/ACT, NT and Tasmania.”
2016 Queensland U18 State Squad
Gold Coast SUNS Academy Representatives
Didymus Blanket
Jack Bowes
Daniel Charlesworth
Jackson Collins
Brayden Crossley
Jacob Dawson
Jesse Esam
Brodie Foster
Lance Hudson
Nick Kempe
Jaicob Kenny
Curtis Marsden
Harris Newton
Brad Scheer
Kai Sheers
Harry Simington
Max Spencer
Shawn Watson
Josh Williams
