The SUNS and Lions academies will go head-to-head in the first round of the 2017 NAB AFL U18 Division 2 Championships.
The rivalry is real … and it’s game on.
Once the jumper is on and these players cross the white line, it’s Lions verses SUNS in a battle for Queensland talent supremacy.
The SUNS will have spoken about how to handle Brisbane spearhead and likely early draft selection Connor Ballenden, who could prove fatal to the Gold Coast if he gets off the chain.
It will be interesting to see who gets the main job on the tall forward, while the rest of the team will try to keep the heat on Ballenden in passing.
At the coalface, eyes will be on SUNS ball winner Jacob Dawson and taller midfielder Harry Simington, watching their contest with in-form Lions midfielders Jack Clayton and Jack Paine.
For the SUNS, the speedy Sam Davidson will be important on the outside and they’ll be hoping 17 year old Bailey Scott, son of former Geelong and North Melbourne player Robert Scott, can show his line breaking ability.
Rheed Gordon will be important for Brisbane, as will Ben Sloan and Brock Aston after spending time playing NEAFL footy for the Lions Academy last year.
The Lions will also be relying on impact from their younger players in Cody Stackleberg, Tom Matthews and Justin Curry who have showed improvement again this year.
Most pundits are expecting a fast, free flowing affair with quick hands and quick decision making. Coaches will be coaching to win, but are governed by a density rule which is in-place to keep the game open and expose the talent of the players.
The match will be live blogged at aflq-new.fspdev.com from 11am.
Teams:
Gold Coast SUNS Academy
| Backs | 22. Rainsford Stone | 46. Caleb Graham | 20. Damien Burke |
| H Backs | 19. Kwaby Boakye | 16. Dirk Koenen | 5. Brodie Foster |
| Centres | 30. Lachlan Smith | 15. Harry Simington | 4. Sam Davidson |
| H Fwds | 3. Jacob Heron | 55. Tom Frazer | 39. Nick Kempe |
| Fwds | 33. Timakoi Bowie | 60. Ben Hewitt | 14. Charlie Offerman |
| Followers | 21. Brayden Crossley | 25. Bailey Scott | 18. Jacob Dawson |
| Interchange | 24. Cory Beaman | 31. Connor Nutting | 52. Lachlan McDonald |
| 28. Mitch Olarenshaw | 27. Emmanuel Baru | 48. Harrison Arnold | |
| 45. Cooper Portelli |
Brisbane Lions Academy
| Backs | 1. Adam Peak | 24. Jack Payne | 12. Ethan Hunt |
| H Backs | 7. Tom Matthews | 25. Josh Preval | 13. Ben Sloan |
| Centres | 16. Reid Gordon | 11. Cody Stackelberg | 9. Billy Johnson |
| H Fwds | 14. Kiedean Coleman | 23. Connor Ballenden | 21. Loki Haines |
| Fwds | 3. Jake Warren | 22. Ben Kristelly | 5. Caleb Franks |
| Followers | 26. Jamie Ivers | 43. Will Fletcher | 18. Brock Aston |
| Interchange | 4. Jai Kennealy | 8. Justin Currie | 17. Daniel Fleming |
| 20. Jack Geary | 27. Jack Tomkinson | 19. Tyler Hausfeld | |
| 35. Tristan Dowdy |
By Sean Melrose.
Twitter: @seanmelrose
