The Mackay region is part of the Gold Coast SUNS Talent Academy zone, which essentially stretches from north of Bundaberg to the northern tip of Queensland and also includes the Gold Coast and Northern Rivers region.

As part of the trip Flannigan was mobbed by nearly 100 participants at a pre organised AFL Mackay Super clinic on the Friday before both Johnson and Flannigan attended the Under 14 Country Championships that were held over the long weekend.

Flannigan presented the AFL Mackay Juniors with a jumper that has been signed by the entire Gold Coast SUNS team.

The Gold Coast SUNS will look to also visit other regional centres including Cairns (mid July), Townsville, Rockhampton and Bamaga (as part of the No Boundaries partnership program).