Page 47 - AFL QUEENSLAND 2012 YEAR IN REVIEW

GOLD COAST SUNS ACADEMY
TALENT PROGRAM THE PLAYERS
Through an extensive recruiting process, watching local; regional and state games, from all over Queensland and Northern NSW, the Gold Coast SUNS Academy has established nearly 1000 names of potential AFL players. The pool is growing!
This year again, in consultation with AFLQ Regional Development Managers; two metro Academy testing days , with over 150 players attending, and Country testing sessions (nearly 200 players) in all four country regions, Rockhampton, Mackay, Townsville and Cairns, the establishment of the 2012 Gold Coast Talent Academy Squads were announced.
The squads comprise of:
• Future Stars - 15 (with all if these players never playing the game before)
• Level 1 - 36 (11 in the Country region)
• Level 2 - 63 (28 in the Country region)
38 local clubs are represented across the above numbers.
LEVEL 3
As well as the Future Stars, Level 1 and Level 2 Academy programs, the SUNS through the Academy, continued to oversee and run the AFLQ Under 18 Scorpions State program on the Gold Coast. There were 30 players training on the Coast (this includes 4 Rookie search players) and another 40 players training through out Northern Queensland to hopefully represent the Gold Coast SUNS Academy against a team from Brisbane Academy, from which the U18 State side was picked for the 2012 AFL U18 Nationals .
Highlights included:
• 9 Players selected for U18 QLD Scorpions
• Won first game V Div 1 team, WA
• Finished 2nd on points in Div 2
• 1 All Australian: Andrew Boston (Broadbeach Football club)
• 15 Senior debutants at their own club
• 17 Academy players played as top ups for the NEAFL Gold Coast SUNS side.
STAFF AND COACHES
In 2012 the Gold Coast SUNS Talent Academy gained ex AFL player Jason Torney as part time time Academy head coach. It was also lucky enough to be able to use the Senior AFL Coach of the SUNS Guy McKenna, and his Assistant Coach- Ken Hinkley, Dean Solomon, Shane O’Bree, Andy Lovell and Shaun Hart to take training sessions.
The Level 2 squad was coached and overseen by Jason Jeffery and Paul Hanrahan. Paul also looked after the Future Stars and Level
1 squads on the Gold Coast. Both Jason and Paul did a great job with the squads. The Academy has also been able to use one of the SUNS Strength and Conditioning managers, Cam Ferguson, in the programs.
As well as metro Academy staff there were also 11 Academy staff looking after the Country squads across Central and North Queensland. Again the work that these coaches and conditioning staff were able to achieve was a credit to them and the regions. The AFLQ Regional managers also ably assisted these people.
ZONES AND BOUNDARIES
The Gold Coast Academy Zone starts in Northern NSW near Ballina and continues north to Beenleigh, just south of Brisbane. The Country region then begins in Gladstone and continues through and including the surrounding areas Rockhampton; Mackay; Townsville; Cairns and the Cape.
GOLD COAST SUNS KEY OUTCOMES
• Provided summer development program for country and GC potential state u18 players-70 players across the two regions.
• 15% of participants are new talent from other sports • Regional future stars match program
for non AFL club players
• Use of senior coach and assistants in
skill development sessions
• Individual player development programs
and review processes established
• Academy Level 3 program:
• 9 Players selected for U18 QLD Scorpions
• 1 All Australian-Andrew Boston (Broadbeach Football club) • 15 Senior debutants at their own club
• 17 Academy players played as top ups for
the NEAFL Gold Coast SUNS side.
• Increased brand awareness in country regions
mainly through establishment of Academy
squads and AFL game in Cairns
• Under 14 Albury carnival against other AFL
Academies. The use of 4 rookie players that had
never played a fully competitive game of AFL.
• Continuation of the AFLQ 14 team secondary schools
carnival around the AFL fixture game in Cairns schools travelling from Mackay and Townsville to participate
ANDREW JOHNSTON
GC SUNS ACADEMY MANAGER
AFL Queensland
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