Gold Coast's renowned reliance on the VFL to help nurture their incoming Academy prospects will continue in 2025, with Suns-tied teenagers Koby Coulson and Cooper Collins to suit up at the state league level on Saturday against Queensland rivals Southport.
The match at Fankhauser Reserve will be Koulson's third for the VFL Suns, having played two games late last year in his bottom-age campaign.
Coulson, a midfielder out of Broadbeach, averaged seven disposals and 2.5 tackles while kicking one goal across his pair of appearances against GWS and Casey.
He'll return to the Suns' reserves when they face the Sharks, with Broadbeach teammate and small forward Collins to make his VFL debut.
The pair both started their 2025 seasons for the Northern Academies series, with Collins catching the eye to rank among his side's best in two of the three games while earning a return of one goal per outing on average.
They'll come up aginst a reigning grand finalist in Southport on Saturday in what shapes as an enticing clash between the two Sunshine State sides, with the Sharks sitting atop the competition thanks to an undefeated start from three games.
Gold Coast have split their results from their first two matches, however boast a percentage of 195.3, having beaten the Northern Bullants by 125 points in Round 3.
The Suns have been able to utilise the VFL as another platform to aid the development of their Academy prospects in recent years, with fellow 2025 talents Zeke Uwland, Dylan Patterson and Beau Addinsall joining Coulson in getting a look last year.
The trio of top-rated Suns Academy stars are expected to return to the VFL sometime this year as they also balance their Talent League, AFL Academy and National Championships commitments.
Patterson and Addinsall were among the AFL Academy's best last week when the representative side fell short against Richmond's VFL program.
2024 Pick 9 selection Leonardo Lombard is another Suns Academy prospect to have come through the VFL, having famously featured in Gold Coast's premiership side in 2023 as a 16-year-old before adding a further eight games to his name in his draft year.
