Much like their last two AFL Drafts, Gold Coast will have a strong idea of who they'll be adding to their list this year, given their strong class of Suns Academy prospects.
The club has five top-rated teenagers who look likely to be taken at this month's draft, two of whom are in the mix as top five prospects, and another two who could fetch bids in the first round.
What isn't known is how well the Suns' suite of draft picks currently stacks up, with a nightmare scenario seeing rivals force the Suns' hand on several occasions come night one.
Pick swaps will be required to get their desired result, which would follow five first-round Academy acquisitions from the past two drafts.
Draft Hand
Picks: 15, 18, 24, 28, 29, 36, 52 (3773 Points)
The Suns came out of the trade period with a strong draft hand despite coughing up a trio of first-round picks to land Christian Petracca.
Adding Collingwood and Port Adelaide's 2025 picks last year, as well as the sale of Sam Flanders for a top 10 pick, aided their plans to match Academy prospects.
They'll still have some work to do on the trade front, however, having just enough points to match early bids, but not much leftover beyond that.
List Needs
Best Available: For most finals clubs, the draft is often a wait-and-see situation, given a later suite of selections are likely at their disposal. List needs are also less profound than the clubs sitting on the bottom few rungs of the ladder. The combination of both factors often leads a contending club to look at the best prospect available when they're on the clock, especially with their first selection. With the Suns no longer a side relying on their next wave of draftees, instead home to a long list of A-grade talent, looking to secure the best prospects available to them will be key.
Versatility: Another consideration for a club looking to remain toward the top of the competition is having a list that can shapeshift on demand. Geelong have proven to be one of the best clubs in having half their starting side able to move into a secondary position. The Suns lack versatility, with most of their rotating options often traditional midfielders utilised elsewhere. Players who can play both ends of the field, or even all three lines, could help shape Gold Coast as a contender for the long haul.
Outside Polish: If there is one area the Suns could perhaps look to bolster, it's some run and clean ball movement to complement their inside workhorses. They added more contested firepower to their ranks over the off-season with the acquisition of Petracca, who joins the likes of Matthew Rowell, Noah Anderson, Touk Miller and Bailey Humphrey as a physical inside ball winner. A fresh face who can slot onto the wing or flanks at either end to offer some spread and efficiency might be an avenue the Suns take.
Potential Targets
Zeke Uwland: A name that will be quite familiar to Suns supporters already, and not because his older brother Bodhi is an incumbent in Damien Hardwick's defence. Zeke only played four games in 2025, all of which came with the Suns' VFL side, as a back injury significantly interrupted his draft campaign. Nevertheless, the versatile flanker remains in the conversation as arguably the best prospect in his draft class. He would certainly be considered at Pick 1 if it weren't for his ties to Gold Coast, who may still need to match a bid one selection later.
| 2 RANK |  | Zeke Uwland Gold Coast Academy Utility HEIGHT: 180cm | โถ+ |
Dylan Patterson: Another top five draft prospect tied to the Queensland club, Patterson is an exciting and explosive runner who packs a punch with his hunt for the ball. Able to play across defence, midfield and attack, Patterson looks most likely to start his career in the backline, offering dash from defence while being an accountable lockdown player on his opponent. Learning from Dan Rioli will go a long way in Patterson's development at the top level.
| 3 RANK |  | Dylan Patterson Gold Coast Academy Utility HEIGHT: 183cm | โถ+ |
Beau Addinsall: With Addinsall and Academy teammates Jai Murray and Koby Coulson also in the mix, the Suns' priority access doesn't stop at Uwland and Patterson. The former trio could all earn selections in the top 40, potentially seeing the Suns significantly shape the first two-thirds of this year's draft. Addinsall is a crafty midfielder who can get forward and have an impact on goal, with his name sliding a touch in the second half of the season due to injury. He was on the outskirts of the top 10 early into the year, and could now potentially be a bargain for the Suns.
| 28 RANK |  | Beau Addinsall Gold Coast Academy Midfielder HEIGHT: 180cm | โถ+ |
