Page 76 - AFL Queensland 2014 in Review

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GOLD COAST SUNS ACADEMY
NEXT LEVEL
In its fourth year, the SUNS Academy grew its fulltime staff to two adding former AFL and NEAFL player and Morningside NEAFL Coach Aaron Rogers.
Aaron’s addition to the Academy helped in developing talented players throughout all regions, running programs on the Gold Coast and attending major Academy events in Airlie Beach, Mackay and Townsville. Aaron quickly understood the tyranny of distance the Academy faces and helped develop important programs and pathways for both regions.
ACADEMY MEMBERS
The Academy number sat around 165 members - a reduction on 2013 allowing us to spend more time on individual development. The quest to have one coach to every ten players was achieved with even more improvements to be made in 2015.
HIGHLIGHTS
• 14 SUNS Academy Players made Queensland Under 18 High Performance Squad (6 North Queenslanders)
• 17 SUNS Academy Players made Queensland Under 16 High Performance Squad
• 13 SUNS Academy Players made Queensland U15 School Boys team- 1 Player nominated as an All Australian
• The SUNS NEAFL side played 60 development players
• 24 SUNS Academy players played NEAFL- One 16 year old
• 12 SUNS Academy Players played more than five games
• 2 Players invited to play for the Allies on Grand Final day and attend the Draft Combine
NORTH QUEENSLAND CAMPS
In 2014 the Academy invested in North Queensland with new initiatives to give our talented players opportunities to compete in a high level game.
1. Townsville NAB Cup Challenge Match SUNS V Brisbane, NQ Talent Zone Level 3 (U18) Trial and Camp- 40+ Players and Coaches
2. Airlie Beach & Mackay Anzac Day camp, U16 North Queensland- 30+ Players and coaches
3. Cairns AFL SUNS V Bulldogs, U17 North Queensland Intra trail
REGIONAL WRAP UP
North Queensland continues to be a prosperous zone with talented players making state squads from Townsville and Cairns at U16 Level and Mackay and Cairns at U18 Level.
CAIRNS 34 Members TOWNSVILLE 25 Members MACKAY 31 Members ROCKHAMPTON 25 Members
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