Rodney Eade and his coaching staff will get a closer look at the next crop of SUNS Academy talent pushing through the ranks, with seven players joining the team for pre-season training through to the end of January.
Highly touted prospects Jack Bowes and Brad Scheer are among the Academy stars that commenced training with the SUNS on Monday, with a focus on educating them AFL on the standards and professionalism required at the elite level.
“It’s been an initiative the club’s undertaken over the last couple of years to come up and train at senior level,” Academy Coach Andrew Raines told SUNS TV on Thursday.
“So they’re in their top age, so whether they’re 18 or 19 years of age, to come up and train with the senior group at the AFL standards and level and conduct training sessions for them and give them the experience of what it takes to be up there with the training standards and intensity.
“Away from that too, they’re involved in weights and recovery protocol and also education sessions so it’s really good for the boys and they’re loving it.”
There will be one familiar face to the seven prospects, with Academy product Jesse Joyce now a part of the SUNS list after being selected in November’s rookie draft at pick No. 67.
Joyce went through a similar program last year, which Raines explained would give this year’s Academy class inspiration.
“Jesse (Joyce) trained with us last year and it was a really good introduction to him and the group,” he said.
“If a few of the boys can emulate what he did last year then that would be fantastic and having him there makes the boys feel a sense that it’s realistic, that it could be them next year.”
Raines, a consummate professional at the top level, had one simple message for his Academy players.
“One thing you teach them is that you’ve got to be prepared well, you’ve got to train hard,” he said.
“Everyone’s got ability at the top level, it’s just your workrate that you’ve got to bring and hopefully that comes to the level they want and is required. If they’re looking to get drafted, that’s where they know they’ve got to get.”
Which SUNS Academy players are training?
Jack Bowes
Daniel Charlesworth
Curtis Marsden
Harris Newton
Brad Scheer
Max Spencer
Connor West
