GOLD Coast Suns Academy prospect Cooper Collins is among the Northern Academy members tipped by teammates to have a breakout campaign in 2025. The forward has spent time training with the Suns’ senior group and is fresh off a bottom-age year which saw him represent Queensland at Under 17 level.

Surveying top-age players from the Suns, Brisbane Lions, and Sydney Swans academies at their respective preseason testing events, a total of 16 names were put forward by their peers as ones to watch. Of them, seven received multiple nominations, with Collins’ three votes leading all comers.

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BRISBANE LIONS ACADEMY

The Lions boys were generous with their nominations, with four players receiving two nominations each. Leading prospect Daniel Annable was inevitably one of them, earning especially high praise from defender Harrison Bridge.

“It’s hard to go past Dan Annable,” Bridge said. “He’s trained the house down. I think everyone knows who he is and what he can bring, but he’s going to have a big year.”

Annable himself put forward four names. He highlighted the “hard to defend” small forward Raphael Geesu as one to watch, while big man Isaac Waller is another “exciting” talent. Bridge and midfielder Ben Lillico were also said to have had a “really good preseason block.”

In a similar vein, Geesu named Annable along with Bridge, Waller, and Lillico, who all trained among the small Allies camp setup. Waller was the only one to nominate a bottom-ager in Caylen Murray, a fellow Maroochydore product. The Under 16 All-Australian is set to shine off half-back this year.

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GOLD COAST SUNS ACADEMY

Collins was the talk of his Suns teammates, which include four National Academy members and several others who were part of the recent Allies camp. Perhaps the greatest endorsement of all came from Zeke Uwland, who said he and Koby Coulson “would slot really well into an AFL environment”.

Coulson himself said Collins and key defender Max Hudson would prove themselves having had “not much notice” externally. Hudson was also put forward by the smooth moving Jai Murray, who coincidentally was Beau Addinsall‘s nomination.

“Even in the VFL last year he played some really high-level footy,” Addinsall said of Murray. Another who made his state league debut last year, Dylan Patterson, was named by Melbourne father-son candidate Kalani White, described as an “absolute jet” with “unreal speed”.

Another to keep an eye on is Harry Heathcote, who has developed into a tall after a recent growth spurt. The 2007-born prospect played at last year’s Under 16 National Championships as an over-ager, impressing with 10 marks and two goals against the Giants Academy in game two.

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SYDNEY SWANS ACADEMY

After an injury riddled bottom-age season, teammates are anticipating midfield dynamo Max King to explode in 2025. The athletic phenom was the only Swan to be named twice by his teammates as one to watch, indicating he could well live up to the potential he has shown in glimpses.

Arguably the most glowing review of all came from defender Kaiden McNamara, whose vote went to key forward Noah Chamberlain.

“He’s had one of the best preseasons I’ve ever seen,” McNamara said. “His work ethic is just unbelievable. Keep an eye out for him, especially on TikTok as well.”

Chamberlain repaid the favour by nominating McNamara as a player on the rise, along with King. The latter put forward over-ager Joe Harrison, who he is looking forward to playing alongside after missing out last year.

>> Race to #1: Noah Chamberlain | Max King