AFL Draft: The Gold Coast Academy prospects behind the headlines

A staggering eight Gold Coast Academy members are part of the Allies squad to take on Western Australia at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.

The strength of northern academies has become a regular talking point in the talent pathway industry in recent years given the pipeline of talent those clubs get priority access to.

Sydney's core duo of Isaac Heeney and Errol Gulden are both products of the Swans Academy, GWS skipper-in-waiting Tom Green is from the Giants Academy, and the Suns had four top 30 selections out of its Academy in 2023 before Leo Lombard last year.

The Academies have been important tools for growing the game in the two states where Aussie Rules is not the traditionally preferred code.

“We make our programs as community-focused as possible in those early years to get families involved and then we have our programs which run from U13s to U18s," Gold Coast Academy coach Jarrod Cotton told Zero Hanger's Craft of the Draft.

"More kids getting drafted from Academies hopefully gives kids here incentive to keep going because they don't need to go anywhere else to play footy and get drafted.

"It gives them hope and belief there is a real pathway for them to pursue AFL."

This year looks like it will produce the greatest depth of Northern Academy talent, with the Suns likely to be the biggest beneficiaries despite needing to pay up more to keep their local talent.

As well as the eight players in the Allies squad, Gold Coast will also get access to powerful left footer Zeke Uwland, the brother of Suns defender Bodhi, who is viewed as a top five talent.

Here is an overview of each of the Allies players that the Suns will get priority access to at the 2025 AFL National Draft, with words from the Gold Coast Academy coach.

Dylan Patterson

Position: Half-back/midfielder

Height: 183cm

Profile: One of the most entertaining players in the draft crop, Patterson has performed for the AFL Academy, in the U17s Futures game and at Coates League level, with the versatility to play either as a rebounding interceptor, damaging winger or hard-at-it midfielder. Has a rugby league background and embraces physical contact and always looks to take the game on by foot.

Jarrod Cotton says: “A freak from a talent point of view, now it's about building the other elements that make someone a good AFL player. When he gets it and moves, he's hard to stop and his kicking is next level and he can break lines. The way he can move and go sideways really quickly is really impressive and his tackle pressure is really strong.”

Kalani White

Position: Tall utility

Height: 199cm

Profile: Will have a decision to make between nominating Gold Coast or Melbourne, given his dad, Jeff, had a 268-game career for the Demons. Made his VFL debut for Melbourne-aligned VFL club Casey two weeks ago and was influential in the last quarter, kicking two goals. Has been played in all thirds of the ground and has significant upside as a tall utility.

Jarrod Cotton says: “In the last three games playing for Gold Coast Academy, he's come out of his shell a lot more, got more aggressive and it's not just aerial presence, for a big man, he's really fast and can move well so we're just trying to get that into his game at an elite level and for his size, he's an elite kick for goal and field kick. The way he launches and catches it makes him a hard matchup and the fact he can play at either end gives coaches a lot of options.”

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Koby Coulson

Position: Utility

Height: 180cm

Profile: After two years interrupted by injury, Coulson laid a strong platform for himself with excellent showings in the U17s Futures and trial matches last year, and has built on it in 2025. Like many in this list, he completed a pre-season with the AFL squad and is tight with several listed Suns, including Wil Powell. Has grown in recruiters' minds considerably this season as a midfielder who can start.

Jarrod Cotton says: “Koby's development has been a credit to him. He's been able to impact games not only with his possessions but also with his inside work, aggression and tackling pressure and his kicking has really improved and he's damaging with his kick. He could start as a good small forward because he can bring really good pressure and he's a good kick inside 50 and hopefully he can develop into a midfielder down the line."

Beau Addinsall

Position: Midfielder

Height: 182cm

Profile: A well-liked character who does everything well as a natural midfielder and has a diverse skillset, which should place him well regardless of what position he starts at the next level. Has long been viewed as one of the better prospects in the 2025 draft class.

Jarrod Cotton says: “He's an elite worker. His GPS numbers are through the roof, which allows him to get to heaps of contests, his hands are really clean. We're probably working for him to get more explosive and become more damaging in the forward half. He gets a lot of the ball because he works hard, has a great footy IQ and is a great kick.”

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Max Hudson

Position: Forward/defender

Height: 192cm

Profile: His lockdown ability earned him a reputation as a player to watch in 2025, but it's been at the other end where he has taken his game to the next level, kicking 13.7 across four Talent League games.

Jarrod Cotton says: “He's always been a good defender and intercept marking player but I wanted to add another string to his bow, so we played him forward this year. He moves well, reads the cue well as a forward which I think comes from being a defender and he can catch the ball and his goal kicking really improved this year.

Cooper Collins

Position: Forward

Height: 189cm

Profile: Kicked 8.5 across four Talent League games this season and has great running capabilities, which he has also showcased in the VFL, breaking through for four appearances so far in 2025.

Jarrod Cotton says: “He plays the hybrid forward role really well, he can get up the ground and get you going back the other way. He played as a running defender in VFL trial games so from a coaching perspective, it's great that he can play multiple positions. He's a good decision-maker, has a great footy IQ and is very unselfish.”

Jai Murray

Position: Midfielder/halfback

Height: 187cm

Profile: Has an Ironman background which shines through with his diligence in a high-performance environment. Is unlikely to feature again this season after suffering a stress fracture in his foot last month playing for the Suns Academy. His younger brother, Taj, is also part of Gold Coast's Academy as a hard-running winger eligible for the 2027 draft.

Jarrod Cotton says: “He was really solid as a running defender, but his midfield work was excellent this year – he found a heap of the footy, was so damaging with his kicking inside 50, hit the scoreboard himself as well. He's probably been the biggest jumper in terms of where he started the year to where he finished and was arguably our best player (throughout the Coates League this year).”

Caleb Nancarrow

Position: Intercept defender

Height: 191cm

Profile: Spent some time at Oakleigh Chargers in recent years playing as a forward/ruck and despite boundless athleticism, he was never quite able to put it together, but Cotton has moved the 19-year-old down back this season, which has proven a masterstroke.

Jarrod Cotton says: "A damaging player who has been playing as a hybrid defender and he's been one of our most consistent players. His vertical is insane and he has elite speed and when the ball is on the ground, he can play like a small.”

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Grady Turner

Position: Lockdown defender

Height: 190cm

Profile: Has a great blend of traits that make him a tough matchup for a variety of types of key forwards. Plays taller than he is and has the speed to go with more mobile types, while his relatively late introduction to the elite level talent pathway makes him a prospect of great upside.

Jarrod Cotton says: "A North Queensland kid who has only played footy at this level for one year – he's had a fantastic season as a key defender. He's fast, powerful and hardly ever gets beaten in the air.

Jonah Harris

Position: Ruck/forward

Height: 196cm

Profile: The brother of AFLW-listed Sun, Havana, Jonah's improvement in 2025 has been rewarded with three VFL games this season. The 196cm talent has spent time as a ruck for Gold Coast this year, but it is unlikely to be his position at the next level, given he stands at 196cm.

Jarrod Cotton says: “He's been elite from an improvement point of view. His ability to mark the ball has improved and he's gotten better with ball in hand. He has a big presence on the ground and his improvement has been excellent.”