The final squad was selected following the Academies Metro v North Queensland match in Townsville, in a game that followed the GC SUNS Round 2 NAB Cup match against North Melbourne.
Jason Torney, the former 195-game AFL player with Richmond and Adelaide is the man responsible for delivering the multi-level coaching program to emerging junior AFL stars across Queensland.
Torney said selecting the final squad had been a difficult task.
“The players have been gearing themselves up for season 2013 with four months of solid pre-season training,” said Torney.
“Many have shown improvement in numerous areas which has made choosing the final squad of players very hard for selectors.”
With Townsville serving as a tough selection trial for the pool of young talent, competition was fierce for the final spots on the team.
“The depth of the North Queensland and Gold Coast teams has increased which is a real reflection on the coaches efforts over the last few years,” said Torney.
The first match between the two Southeast Queensland academies will take place at Leyshon Park, Yeronga at 1pm on Saturday 16 March, with the second match scheduled on Sunday 24 March at Cookie Murphy Oval, Labrador.
After the dual-series, a final 35-man squad will be selected to representative honours with the Queensland Scorpions, where the players will then compete in the 2013 AFL National U18 Championships held later this year.
Gold Coast SUNS Academy final squad:
Ryan Agita (Hermit Park) Townsville/Broadbeach
Robert Blood Southport
Nick Burton Broadbeach
Todd Carbone (Eastern Swans, Mackay)/Mt Gravatt
Brandon Cole South Cairns/Labrador
Tyler Cornish Southport
Hamish Davidson Rockhampton Panthers/Southport
Cameron Duffy (Manunda Hawks) Cairns/Redlands
Jarred Ellis Broadbeach
James Farley-Smith (Manunda Hawks) Cairns/Redlands
Jack Goodall (Port Douglas) Cairns/Redlands
Cassidy Haberfield Surfers Paradise
Caleb Hay Nth Rivers
James Holland Southport
Kieran Lejuene Southport
Stephen Mills Rockhampton Panthers /Southport
Dylan Mutu Surfers Paradise
Bill O’Donnell Broadbeach
Braydon Preuss (Hermit Park) Townsville/Mt Gravatt
Tom Stevenson Broadbeach
Jack Taylor Surfers Paradise
Darcy Trask Southport
Joe Ward Nth Rivers/Broadbeach
Angus Watts Labrador
Lachlan Weller Broadbeach
Shaun Wilson Broadbeach
Isacc Rokeby Cape York/North Cairns
