GOLD Coast Suns Academy have bounced back from their Q-Clash loss to the Brisbane Lions Academy to post a two-point victory over GWS GIANTS Academy at Metricon Stadium. Despite inaccurate scores, the game was played in typical football conditions, without rain but heavily overcast and featuring some wind. Though the GIANTS gave it a red-hot crack in the second half – and even had a shot after the siren to try and win it – the Suns came away with the 5.13 (43) to 5.11 (41) victory.

Gold Coast’s accuracy in the first half was what kept the Suns on top, booting 4.2 (26) to the GIANTS’ 1.7 (13). Though the Giants found their radar in the third term with 2.2, they were still playing catch-up as the Suns maintained a four-point lead at the final break. Gold Coast only kicked one goal after half-time, which was a much needed major in the final term, but the GIANTS again kept coming . A late shot on goal in the final 30 seconds to Cooper Hynes had the chance to ice the game for the Suns, but it ultimately did its job, making it a two-point ball game.

Though it looked like the game was done and dusted, the Giants produced the play of the day going end-to-end with a couple of big marks from players in the middle and inside 50, leading to a deliberate out of bounds call on the Suns defence. It meant Josh Cresswell had a shot after the siren from 40m. Unfortunately for the GIANTS, a combination of angle and distance got him, with the good effort putting it to the top of the square, but not able to put it through, resulting in the two-point margin.

SUNS ACADEMY 1.2 | 4.2 | 4.7 | 5.13 (43)
GIANTS ACADEMY 0.3 | 1.7 | 3.9 | 5.11 (41)

GOALS:

Suns: J. Kennedy 2, B. Everitt 2, C. Nancarrow
GIANTS: N. Harper 3, H. Odgers, C. Mattingly

RMC BEST:

Suns: Z. Uwland, C. Nancarrow, N. Beikoff Smart, L. Lombard, H. Cook
GIANTS: C. Bell, T. Forrest, N. Harper, L. Hogan, C. McCormack

SUNS ACADEMY:

#4 Zeke Uwland (Burleigh Bombers)
24/04/2007 | 174cm | Small Defender

The younger brother of listed AFL Suns player Bodhi, Uwland was stellar in defence with the small left footer winning plenty of the ball and offering plenty of rebound in a Daniel Rich type role setting up the play for his side. His second half in particular was outstanding with some impressive opposite foot kicks under pressure and was not afraid to go back with the flight against stronger players. He had plenty of it in the last quarter as the GIANTS team propelled the ball en-mass inside 50. A player a year younger than the rest, there are plenty more years left for Uwland until he is draft eligible, but he certainly looked comfortable against the older and bigger bodies. 

#5 Nelson Beikoff Smart (Palm Beach Currumbin Lions)
15/03/06 | 173cm | 64kg | Midfielder

The blonde haired captain oozed composure and skill on the wing, seeming to have more time than anyone on the ground, often staying composed to hit his handballs and kicks with precision. His ability to turn on a dime and lace out nice switch passes was impressive in opening up the game and his clean hands at ground level only gave him more time to make those good decisions, a strong first and last quarter he helped set the tone early and helped his side hold on in the last. 

#7 Harry Cook (Centrals Juniors)
04/04/2006 | 179cm | Midfielder

The clearance king for the Suns, Cook was clean and positioned well at stoppages, and although his clearance work was not fancy or quick, it was effective. Cook would save his skill on the outside with some lovely kicks in general play highlighted with a darting pass inside 50 to teammate Everitt who would however drop the mark but the kick could not have been better to a leading forward. 

#8 Leonardo Lombard (Burleigh Bombers)
5/10/2006 | 175cm | Midfielder

A ball magnet for the Suns in the midfield, Lombard partnered well with stoppage specialists Cook and Fitzgerald to offer more run and workrate on the outside. He won most of his ball there and was unlucky to get pinged for running too far in one nice passage of play in the second quarter showing great agility. Despite winning a lot of outside ball, he was not afraid to put his body on the line, taking contests at speed and was almost rewarded with a goal in the last quarter but would miss the running shot. 

#21 Boston Everitt (Southport Sharks)
18/12/2006 | 183cm | Forward/Ruck

The father-son prospect of ruckman Peter Everitt (180 games for St Kilda) played as an undersized key forward and would equal the highest goal tally for his team with two. At 183cm, Everitt showed nice hands overhead and good forward craft, he missed some getable shots which could have made his day look a little better but still plenty to take away from the game. 

#23 Ty Fitzgerald (BITS Saints)
20/01/2006 | 184cm | Midfielder

The taller of the midfield crop at the Suns Fitzgerald played his role well winning first possession and getting arms free or moving well in traffic, he also did well to get out on the outside getting some nice long kicks inside 50 showing a good balance to his midfield craft. A really nice kick to the hot spot to teammate Everitt was a highlight in the third quarter, and Fitzgerald would almost kick a goal himself, missing a snap at goal in the same quarter. 

#30 Caleb Nancarrow (Cairns City Lions)
31/05/2006 | 195cm | Ruck/Tall Forward

The incredibly athletic 195cm ruck/forward showed plenty of exciting traits as the Oakleigh Charger put on a stellar performance, in a good hitout against Cooper Bell. Both won their fair share of hitouts, and in open play Bell was stronger behind the ball with Nancarrow taking some impressive marks forward of the ball. Nancarrow’s clean hands and agility was on full display with some great balks on the wing and he could have also kicked two goals with an impressive long shot at goal just touched on the line in the third quarter. 

GIANTS ACADEMY:

#2 Josaia Delana (Willoughby)
01/07/06 | 170cm | Small Forward

The nippy and energetic small forward had plenty of exciting moments with his pressure and tackling in the front half a real positive, although he wouldn’t hit the scoreboard himself he will would have had plenty of score assists too his name and his best bit of play came in the last quarter laying a strong tackle then taking the player on after the free kick showing great agility and then showing composure to hit the short kick inside 50. 

#7 Lachlan Hogan (Bendigo Pioneers)
13/01/06 | 180cm | Midfielder

The nippy Bendigo Pioneers midfielder showed plenty of energy around the ball with his quick hands and agility impressive in the midfield, his second quarter was his most productive with some nice clean gathers and quality handballs showing good skill and vision. His kicking was also a highlight with a few nice kicks inside 50 and a long dart on the wing in the third quarter a real eye catcher.

#13 Joshua Murphy (Murray Bushrangers)
28/11/06 | 185cm | Forward/Midfielder

The medium sized Murray Bushrangers prospect spent some time forward and in the middle and looked adept in both areas showcasing his clean hands at ground level and movement in traffic. a lot of his better moments came from excellent gathers at ground level and some mixed handballs here and there although he was often under a lot of pressure and although he didn’t kick a goal he had a ripper checkside attempt at goal in the last quarter. 

#24 Tom Forrest (Murray Bushrangers)
14/06/06 | 189cm | Key Defender

A reliable key defender the 189cm Murray Bushranger could have been mistaken for a young Dustin Fletcher with some great intercept marks and some important touches close to goal highlighted with a finger tip to stop a certain goal in the last quarter. The standout key defender on the ground Forrest was composed and effervescent down back and his marking was also a real feature and he will hopefully grow to a proper key position height for his draft year in 2 years. 

#25 Noah Harper (Collinguille)
15/06/06 | 189cm | Key Forward

The prime key forward threat for the Giants the 189cm forward through himself at everything in the air and although he didn’t stick every attempt he was no less impressive with his jump at the ball and commitment. He was good at leading up the ground and wheeling around inside 50 but also damaging inside 50 with his first goal a nice crumbing snap near the goal square and a big pack mark in the centre square and a strong contested mark on the lead led to his second and third goals, like Forrest he will hope to grow a bit taller to play as a true key position player. 

#26 Cooper Bell (Belconnen Magpies)
30/11/06 | 195cm | Ruck

An impressive game in the ruck for 195cm ruckman Cooper Bell who had an exciting duel with fellow ruck talent Caleb Nancarrow, and although Nancarrow was more flashy Bell had more of the ball around the ground – positioning himself well behind the ball and around the ground to take some strong marks. The biggest surprise with Bell was his skill set able to deliver some incredible passes by foot that is rare for a player his size, he was huge in the last quarter taking some strong marks on the wing and using the ball well and did everything he could to try and get his team over the line. 

#37 Charlie McCormack (Northern Jets)
02/04/05 | 197cm | Key Forward/Ruck

Playing as a ruck foil for Bell, the over-aged McCormack showed his wares as a key forward more so with the highlight of the day in the second quarter with an impressive leap inside 50 although he would miss the set shot. The 197cm McCormack didn’t have a lot of the ball but his moments here and there were some of the most eye catching of any player on the ground, a good contest at ground level committing his body in the last quarter was another impressive bit of play which is often not a strength of lightly framed talls.