The Gold Coast SUNS Under 15 Academy team boarded the bus and headed five hours south of the border this morning, setting off to the AFL Academies U15 Carnival in Coffs Harbour.

The three-day football meet, which also includes the UWS Giants and Brisbane Lions Academies, will see 25 GC SUNS juniors compete against some of Australia’s best young talent.

GC SUNS Academy junior Jack Bowes headlines the travelling party, the North Queensland product earning U15 All-Australian School Boys honours in August.

Joining the team as assistant coaches are Academy members Jared Ellis and Lachlan Weller, both of whom racked up a handful of NEAFL appearances under Shaun Hart’s Gold Coast SUNS reserves squad this year.

GC SUNS List Manager Scott Clayton will also be surveying the carnival’s junior stocks, keeping his eyes peeled as the scouting master continues his hunt to find the next Andrew Boston and Charlie Dixon.

GC SUNS Academy Head Coach and Manager – Jason Torney, told goldcoastfc.com.au the AFL-organised camp would give the Academy players a taste and an appreciation for senior-listed players that prepare and compete in an AFL environment. 

“The carnival presents an AFL camp when teams go away for the weekend and it’s all footy focused,” Torney said.

“The Academy players will be reviewing, recovering and playing three games all in three days.”

With most of the boys having played alongside each other in U14 Academy carnival last year, Torney said there was already great comradery in the group.

“Last year we had an U14 carnival so we have a lot of familiar faces.

“We have some new addition this year though. Last year we only brought five players down from North Queensland and this year we have brought nine, so it’s going to be a good trip for the boys.”

“They certainly get a lot out of it and it’s a great opportunity for them to show they can display a high level of professionalism – even at the U15 level.”