The deadline for academy and father-son nominations is Thursday, 25 November, which means the Gold Coast Suns will this week be naming their pre-listed rookies, with up to six places available on their expanded rookie list.
Confirmation came this week of 2021 list sizes for all clubs, which when applied to the Gold Coast Suns means they can have 36 to 38 primary listed players, two category B rookies and ten to 12 category A rookies, making a total list of 50.
At the conclusion of the 2020 season the Suns had three players retire from their primary list, delisted two more and also delisted five players from their rookie list. In the trade period they signed two players in free agency, quietly added a player to their category B rookie list and traded out a primary list player.
This means they have 36 players on their primary list, five and two respectively on their category A and category B lists. However, the club has gone on record as saying that they will be making only the lone selection on draft day, leading to further speculation that they will upgrade a rookie to take their total to 37 primary listed players.
What this all means is that after bringing in ten players through free agency, trade, pre-listing academy kids and going to the draft in 2019, a similar number will come through this time around but with more emphasis on developing local talent without as many high-end draft picks.
(Photo by Graham Denholm/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Hewago Paul Oea
As previously reported, Hewago Paul Oea will be nominated as the club’s second category B rookie but hasn’t proven during his two-year scholarship that he is an AFL-quality prospect. Known as Ace, the 19-year-old from Papua New Guinea has done it all with the Suns, playing for the academy in the NAB League, representing the Allies at the National Championships and getting a rising star nomination in the NEAFL.
The kid was even presented with jumper No. 51 at the season launch this year and played in the majority of the scratch matches against AFL listed opposition. The only thing left to really announce Ace to the big time is to upgrade him to Pearce Hanley’s vacated No. 1 jersey.
Alex Davies
Japanese Australian Suns academy dux Alex Davies is a lock for being pre-listed by the Suns. Rising 192 centimetres and filling out to 85 kilograms, which are incidentally the same stats Marcus Bontempelli started out with, Davies is the missing piece the Suns midfield requires.
Given some preseasons to mature and grow into his adult body, he will become an elite stoppage extractor and distributor, already possessing the agility and evasive skills that draft evaluators are ranking him mid to late first-round talent on the basis of his underage year in 2019.
Joel Jeffrey
Northern Territory academy product Joel Jeffrey is the son of Russell Jeffrey, who played a season at Carrara and after 50 VFL/AFL games and went on to become a renowned playing coach in the NTFL with Wanderers and Palmerston. Also 192 centimetres but playing at 80 kilograms, Jeffrey this year spent time playing with the Suns academy in a midseason stint, standing out in the two wins against the Lions academy despite only having a brief camp to gell with his new teammates.
Joel’s highlight reel playing for NT Thunder and Allies in his bottom-aged year was enough for the 18-year-old Indigenous talent to be considered first-round potential.
Brodie Lake
Lake is the other NT prospect the Suns are favoured to pre-list after he completely smashed the SA draft combine, especially with his 7.90 seconds agility test, the seventh fastest since AFL combine records began, and the overall fourth best running vertical jump of 94 centimetres on his left in 2020. His 20-metre time was also top ten among all comers.
Brodie has played at junior level in the NTFL, WAFL and SANFL, also training with the Suns academy while navigating COVID protocols. At 185 centimetres and 79 kilograms, his utility and raw potential to play anywhere on the field make him an exciting prospect.
Aiden Fyfe
Aiden Fyfe had an outstanding year to climb up into calculations capped off by one of the best overall draft combine performances, equal tenth running vertical jump on his right of 85 centimetres, equal second running vertical jump on his left of 95 centimetres and ninth in the 20-metre sprint at 2.898 seconds.
Fyfe’s QAFL team lost in a heartbreaking grand final when he was one of the best in the Broadbeach side that was narrowly beaten. He has risen very quickly in calculations this year, playing senior footy and filling out to 190 centimetres and 83 kilograms. Aiden can play off the halfback flank as a rebounder or out on a winger as an outside midfielder.
Jack Johnston
Jack Johnston has been groomed as the Suns next key defender recruit, playing NEAFL against GWS AFL-listed player alongside Izak Rankine in late 2019, when he did not look out of place at all. At 195 centimetres and 95 kilograms, Jack has been able to complete at senior level in the QAFL this year for Palm Beach and he captained the Suns Academy boys to a pair of wins over the Lions Academy.
Before the AFL concessions were passed, Johnston was always going to be rookied by the Suns, but the competition for spots makes it hard to call despite a clear need to develop defensive talls with his capabilities.
(Photo by Michael Dodge/AFL Media/Getty Images)
Josh Gore
Josh Gore was another player believed to have the inside running on being drafted out of the Suns academy, regularly playing for the NEAFL side as an underager. He had some outstanding performances for the academy and Allies, where he was leading the goal kicking in the NAB League with ten goals in five games and then booted five goals in three National Championships appearances, three majors coming in the win against Vic Metro.
But again, the bounty of being able to choose from both NT and Suns academies saw Gore miss a place last year, and he faces strong competition this year too, not least because at 178 centimetres and 77 kilograms he measures the same as several players already on the list.
Max Pescud
Max Pescud announced himself as a bottom-ager in the NAB League in 2019, where he was able to get a hold of the ball and find the goals. In 2020 he ripped the Lions academy apart and played senior footy in the QAFL for Surfers Demons, getting the attention of opposition scouts when he booted 6.4 in one match.
He’s made Kevin Sheehan’s scouting notes for medium forwards, but at 185 centimetres and 70 kilograms he seems to have more growth and development to do. Whether that’s on or off an AFL is up to the experts.
Rhys Nicholls
Rhys Nicholls was another bottom-ager who really impressed in the Suns academy’s NAB League series-winning side, playing all five games last year off halfback. Rhys continued his form in 2020, playing senior footy for his local QAFL club the Labrador Tigers.
While he is in the conversation for pre-listing, he seems to be just behind too much talent. However, there is also a chance that the 190-centimetre and 78-kilogram prospect gets snapped up by an opposition club in the rookie draft.
Thomas Hofert
Thomas Hofert and Ryan Pickering are both emerging talls who will really benefit from continuing in the Suns academy program and going through a proper season of development in 2021. Bailey Reeves will need to wait another year, but players like Ashton Crossley, Corey Joyce, Branden Deslandes, Riley Buckland and Ryan Gilmore age out of the academy system without really having the chance to properly develop or audition in 2020, and yet they’ll now have tremendous opportunities to break into the new East Coast second Tier league.
Suns recruiters in 2018 chose only one academy player, Caleb Graham, leaving Dirk Koenen, Matt Conroy and several others to prove themselves in their top-age year. In 2019 Patrick Murtagh came from nowhere to gain a spot, Matt Conroy continued his ruck development – maybe benefiting from Brayden Crossley’s situation – while Connor Budarick made his case irresistible and Mally Rosas probably knocked Josh Gore out of the final spot.
With the NAB League and National Championships going to ender-19s in 2021, look for the Suns to stash 18-year-olds again. Equally, all recruiters should beware of poachers, because this draft is so compromised that opposition recruiters have no choice but to consider all talent available to them, while the Suns academy is improving by the year.
Aside from who the Suns decide to pre-list, the question is: how many? Maybe they will leave some spots available to dabble in the rookie draft, or perhaps they plan to carry over vacant places for whatever the in-season draft looks like in 2021.
Whatever the case, things will become much clearer when all clubs lodge their lists this week and declare their nominations for tied players.
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
Tom Boswell reported that Rhys Nicholls is 190cm and 78kg on 11 August 2020 in the Gold coast Bulletin. Most of the player measurements I used for this article are verified at least twice, but some of them are still growing so I've gone with the higher measurement in this instance. No more 191cm Jesse Joyce stories :laughing: :laughing:
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
New article pending. Not much new, just summarizes the new situation and “likely” outcomes. The Jacob Townsend stuff is interesting. 5th former Tiger. Not sure about a list spot though.
George13
Guest
According to foxsports Homan, Budarick and Rosas will be promoted. So it looks like only one spot left on senior list for pick 5 (after adding Davies and Jeffrey), pick 27 will be traded and 3 rookie spots are still left. Nicholls and Townsend candidates to fill 2 of them. GOLD COAST SUNS Draft picks: 5, 27, 76, 84 Who has left: Jacob Dawson (delisted), Corey Ellis (delisted), Sam Fletcher (delisted), Pearce Hanley (retired), Jacob Heron (delisted), George Horlin-Smith (retired), Jesse Joyce (delisted), Anthony Miles (retired), Mitch Riordan (delisted), Josh Schoenfeld (delisted), Peter Wright (Essendon, trade) Who has arrived: Rory Atkins (Adelaide Crows, free agent), Oleg Markov (Richmond, trade) Promoted rookies: Conor Budarick, Nick Holman, Malcolm Rosas Jnr Retained rookies: Jarrod Harbrow (will move from senior list), Jack Hombsch (will move from senior list), Jordan Murdoch (will move from senior list), Hawego Paul Oea (Category B), Zac Smith (will move from senior list)
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
I have a huge issue with this kind of reporting from Cal Twomey. He’s getting information from the AFL and the club, then reporting it in a secrecy shrouded manner which hints and guesses around the edges of what is actually happening. Here’s my reading of what he’s saying: – the Suns have to use their primary list to pre-list Davies and Jeffrey, taking the number from 32 to 34 – the rest of the Suns Academy players can be pre-listed on the rookie list – there are 4 places left on the primary list and 1 must be used at the draft – Twomey thinks it “likely” that Rhys Nicholls will “likely” be taken at the draft by the Suns This is poor tweaking going on here by the AFL. If anything they should be increasing the Suns primary spots and salary cap, but those are the two things the Suns asked for at the AFL commission that were rejected. What I am excited about is that the chances of 5 Academy players coming onto the list in some way or another is still in prospect and that the Suns are still going to the draft with 1 pick. Hopefully Budarick and Rosas get promoted. Conroy could stand to spend 2 more years on the rookie list to prove himself. I guess they are doing their due diligence on delisted free agency before making any announcements.
George13
Guest
Davies and Jeffrey on senior list. Nicholls still a chance. https://www.afl.com.au/news/525878/late-rule-tweak-to-see-gun-academy-suns-avoid-draft-join-main-list
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
I just read a rumour that the Suns would be signing Cyril Rioli in the Rookie Draft. Can't get a game for Tiwi Bombers, but he's coming to the Suns.
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
In pure mathematics, the Suns have 6 primary spots to fill, with the Rookie list stacked with 9 A and 2 B. However, they have several options with how they play it from here. Option 1 - promote Holman, Budarick, Rosas and Conroy, then take 2 live picks to the Draft. With the 4 remaining rookie spots, they either pre-list or a combination of pre-list and delisted free agency. Option 2 - promote Holman, Budarick, Rosas and Conroy, take 1 live pick to the Draft and trade out other picks, settling on 37 senior spots, extending the rookie list by an extra spot. Option 3 - delist Holman and promise to re-rookie, promote Holman, Budarick, Rosas and Conroy, settle on the minimum 36 primary listed spots after using only pick 5 at the Draft, then have 6 rookie A places with which they use however they please with pre-listing and cherry picking the rookie draft or leaving a space for the midseason draft* This is why nobody but the Suns is reporting on this, because they are waiting on Academy nominations, which will include pre-listed players. Should be today, but it is getting late for that! I like Thilthorpe, but I'm not letting myself get excited by a tall getting to our pick. That's why I'm bullish on Cox, as we have more than enough midfielders to run with, and Reid is less impressive from what I've seen. BTW, Cox has filled out since his bottom age footage, but he hasn't lost speed - he's been training with his uncle, who is an athletics trainer, and his Dad was an AFL player. *Don't forget the Long Term Injury list. Rory Thompson could end up on it all season again, which opens a spot for a midseason draft pick. In fact, any players who suffer season ending injuries by then can trigger a spot. Although the AFL aren't exactly open on that score either.
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
Maybe the Crows get Tom Powell and watch him walk to the Suns in 2 years, like they've encouraged Hately to do. I would not be worried about go-home factor for SA boys from the Gold Coast. There are guys who were delisted by the Suns years ago who still live on the Gold Coast. Only Harrison Wigg and Jesse Lonergan, out of well ov er 20 players the Suns have taken out of SA, have gone back to the SANFL, but only because they harbour ambitions to play AFL again one day and playing NEAFL wasn't going to get them there.
George13
Guest
Yes, it's really interesting time for SUNS. I personally doubt that SUNS would split pick 5. It seems there is a drop off in quality after pick 5. For some reason, I am hoping Thilthorpe will still be there. He would be a great fit. I am now leaning towards SUNS using pick 27. They have probably someone in mind. Unless they trade it for future 2nd. All your suggestion are quite reasonable. Cox is skinny but impressive. If all Holman, Budarick, Rosas and Conroy are promoted that leaves 4 cat A spots to fill. My guess is that at least 1 and possibly 2 spots as you mentioned will be left for de-listed, pre-season, mid-season drafts. That would mean only Davies and Jeffrey will be pre-listed and possibly one more. When will they tell us pre-listed players? This Fri?
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
The new development of the AFL allowing clubs to shunt two players straight onto their rookie list to free up senior spots has changed everything. Today we saw a Brisbane player, Mitch Hinge, refuse a rookie contract and is headed to the Crows, which is quite remarkable. The Lions have cleared sufficient space to draft up to 3 players, who could all be Academy players if Blake Coleman gets a bid before their first pick at 25. They have only 3rd and 4th round picks after that which represent a lot of points. Their Academy is deep enough for them to add 3 kids, likely to also include Saxon Crozier and Jack Briskey. The Suns are putting 4 players on the rookie list, but are yet to announce how they'll get from 32 Senior spots up to the 36 - 38 mark. My guess is they'll pre-list 4-5, upgrade Nick Holman and the 3 pre-listed kids from last year and have 1 or 2 live picks in the draft. They could possibly be active in delisted free agency, but they'd have to really like a player for that to happen (Wylie Buzza?!) There are clubs that will now be having 1 or 2 more live draft picks than they had thought they feasibly could. It won't push out drastically, but there's a realistic possibility of picks going well into the 60s, up from conservative estimates of only 53, as clubs with extra senior space choose players they'd ordinarily leave to the rookie draft. It's going to be a mess until after Friday, when all the list lodgements are in, and even then we'll see a delisted free agency scramble unlike any other given the talent available. Hinge might not be the last player to cut and run with the low-ball contract situation. There will be plenty of pick trading to come, but the horse trading is not quite done yet.
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
Well summarised. One thing you’ve left out is what the Suns do with the extra rookie spots created by the upgrading of 4 to 5 players. My prediction is they pre-list at least 4, although if they do immediately upgrade say Davies, then it could be 5. But the 2 senior spots could yet be used by picks 5 and 27 – what do you think of my proposed trades to try to get Nik Cox and Tom Powell? The question also has to be asked – is there a delisted free agent out there who meets the Suns U26 list profile? Sam Skinner, Zach Sproule, Mitch O-Neill (please!). Or do they go for an experienced head like Shane Savage for a bit of mongrel in the backline, or Mason Wood to compete for the 3rd tall spot.
George13
Guest
Harbrow, Murdoch, Hombsh, Smith all demoted to rookie list. That leaves SUNS with 32 players on the senior list. Promote Holman, pick 5 - still 4 spots available. So it does look like last year4 pre-listed Budarick, Rosas, Conroy will be promoted. Still one spot left. SUNS could use pick 27. Alternatively, Davies and Jeffrey could go straight to senior list? It looks like no news on pre-listed players today.
Gyfox
Roar Rookie
Would love to see the Suns get Powell, not the Crows. "Go home" factor in reverse!
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
Or the Hail Mary. Suns trade picks 5, 27 (2583) plus future 1st North trade picks 2, 11 (2846) plus future 2nd and 3rd Suns get Logan McDonald and Tom Powell plus points to match academy bids in 2021. North gets a gun mid and could opt to trade back in, although their motivation here would be to get a second early draft pick in a more predictable draft in 2021 instead of watching 11 drift out to 14 or 15 and missing a top rated player.
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
Maybe GWS have the picks. Suns give 5, 27, 76 (it will be worth points by 3rd round) = 2600+ Giants give 10, 13 = 2600+ Might need to exchange future picks satisfy GWS… Gives the Giants a stab at the top 6, possibly a stepping stone to an even higher pick. Suns could get one of Zach Reid or Nik Cox at 10 and Tom Powell at 13.
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
Well, now that the AFL has confirmed that clubs can put 2 senior players onto the rookie list without having to go through the draft, it could bring pick 27 back into play. Suns could trade picks 5, 27 and their future 2nd to Collingwood for 14, 16 and their future first. Pies get an immediate replacement for Treloar and points to match McInnes this year and Daicos next year. Suns would have to hope Tom Powell lasted that long and a quality tall.
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
A day is a long time in the AFL. A memo has gone out tonight informing clubs that they can move 2 players directly from the senior list to the rookie list with needing to force them through the draft process. How this changes the Suns recruitment strategy is unclear. It may change nothing. Pick 27 may again be in play, though I strongly doubt it. The Suns have some decisions to make.
Gyfox
Roar Rookie
Just saw an interview with star SA youngster, Powell. Grew up on Gold Coast & has supported them sibs they came into the AFL. Would be a great coup if Suns got him
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
I want to have another crack at directly answering your questions because they are good ones. First, the list rebuild which started when Rodney Eade came in failed because they overpaid highly rated kids like Tom Lynch, Steven May, Jack Martin etc and filled up on list cloggers (I won't name them because they served the club well). In those years, a lot of players went out and of the 33 that came in between 2014 offseason and 2016 offseason, 25 are gone now. Second, the list build reboot started with a new CEO, new headcoach, new general manager and a new list manager. They went for a new direction and traded for Lachie Weller. The whole football world said they were crazy. Then they picked a random in Wil Powell with the pick they traded Gary Ablett for at 19. Everyone said they were crazy. Then they picked Charlie Ballard in the 3rd round instead of James Worpel. Mental. 4 players from that draft are now best 22. Third, the real shift in culture came with Tom Lynch leaving, then Steven May not being offered an extension, plus Kade Kolodjasnij, Aaron Hall, Michael Barlow, Jarryd Lyons and others being traded/delisted because they didn't like the new direction of the rebuild. In other words, they'd all been paid big and they were offered less or not offered anything. Fourth, the draftees of 2017 to 2019 were all extended at market rate with the consistent message that the club would grow together, with the captains getting the big bucks (not as big as before) and the newbies would be given their big paydays in the future when they'd earnt them. They all signed on except Jack Martin and Callum Ah Chee. Fifth, and last, they got through this season playing the core group of kids together, getting games into them and instilling the belief in the game plan. Then they had 3 retirements, 2 unfortunate but necessary delistings, 5 rookies let go and 1 salary dump enforced by the list size reductions. The next draft haul will be 6 very good players, whether they go 100% kids or have a mature age delisted free agent in mind for the Rookie Draft. Finally, I think the club will continue to have to trade out players that want better opportunities, but they will be guys who can't get regular AFL games and need to have their salaries taken out of the cap for a new kid to have an opportunity. The Suns and NT Academy kids are that good that the club could trade out a highly rated fringe player every year and still have a renewed list come draft time.
2dogz
Roar Rookie
Pew pew pew :thumbup: