A UTILITY who prides himself on effective ball use and decision making, Zeke Uwland is unlikely to let injury stand in the way of being one of this year’s top draft prospects. The Suns Academy star will miss much of the season due to stress fractures, but has already staked his claim amongst the nation’s best.

Speaking at Queensland’s preseason testing event last week, Uwland detailed his setbacks and the impact elder brother Bodhi has had on his career. A Suns man “through and through”, the 17-year-old has made every post a winner while training with Gold Coast’s senior group and the National Academy.

>> AFL DRAFT: 2025 Race to #1 – Zeke Uwland

PRESEASON Q&A

Q: Zeke, can you start with your earliest memories of football and when you began to get involved with the game?

ZU: As long as I’ve been alive really I’ve had a family that’s been fully involved in footy. I’ve got three brothers who all love their footy and two parents that were originally from Victoria, so it’s sort of been branded into me really. Footy’s a big part of my life and I love it.

Q: Having had your elder brother Bodhi come through the same pathway, how helpful has he been to you?

ZU: We’re very close. Obviously I got the opportunity to train with the Suns’ senior side over the summer period and that was a great opportunity. We just drove each other and strived to be as professional as we can be. First in, last out and just making the most of the opportunity that I was lucky enough to have.

Q: What kind of learnings have you taken from those opportunities, and your time with representative programs like the AFL Academy?

ZU: Just really making the most of every opportunity and asking as many questions as you can. Obviously being in such a high level environment, you’re surrounded by some elite talent and coaches so it’s just making use of all the facilities and staff and every player that’s around you, and just picking their brain really.

>> NATIONAL CHAMPS: Why the 2025 Allies can repeat history

Q: How has your preseason been so far?

ZU: It’s been pretty interrupted. I’ve had a stress reaction in my pelvis which I had in December, so that interrupted my preseason with the AFL. But I’m just grinding to rehab that as quickly as possible. Unfortunately I’ve had a bit of a setback again with a stress reaction in my back but I’m just taking it one step at a time and making sure that I stay positive and focus on the overall goal to become an AFL player.

Q: Do you have a timeframe on your return and when you’d like to be back?

ZU: Not yet. I’m not sure about Allies yet so I definitely want to play some strong VFL footy and be around the AFL side as much as possible to really just make the most of what’s been a pretty interrupted season.

Q: You can play anywhere on the ground, so when you return, what kind of role will you undertake?

ZU: That’s a discussion that I’ve had with my Under 18s coach, Jarrod Cotton. We think it’s a really good weapon to have, being versatile. So whatever the game needs me to be, I’m more than happy to play. At the end of the day I just want to be the best player I can be for the team and whatever gets me a game in an AFL side is what I want to play. In the Under 18s I’d say potentially as a midfielder as that’s something I’d like to explore as I become a bit older. Then at VFL and Allies level, either half-back or wing I think.

Q: Can you describe yourself as a player?

ZU: I’d say I’m a good ball user that makes decisions rapidly and effectively. I try to break lines with my ball use and I feel like leadership is something that I’ve been working on over the past couple of years and it’s something that I definitely want to have as a string to my bow going into an AFL environment.

>> AFL DRAFT: Northern Academy prospects pick their breakout contenders

Q: What are some other things on-field that you’re looking to improve on?

ZU: My explosiveness, my first three steps. Obviously with ball use being a strength, if I can introduce speed or acceleration as a component of that, then I feel like I could really tear apart oppositions if I get that right. That’s been a focus going into my rehab, working with the strength and conditioning coach Matt Taylor. He’s been massive with my development, especially my speed work, so I’m working closely with him to improve that area specifically.

Q: Are there any players you look up to at AFL level to mould your game on?

ZU: Definitely. Errol Gulden from the Sydney Swans, I feel like he’s a very well rounded player and he’s making that transition to midfield now as an elite ball user and a great runner as well. I think that he really hurts the opposition with the way he plays and that’s someone I aspire to be like, for sure.

Q: Are you a Suns supporter?

ZU: Absolutely, through and through.

Q: What about your parents?

ZU: Mum’s a Tigers supporter and Dad was a Pies supporter, but they’re both Suns now that Bodhi’s in the [AFL] and I don’t think that’ll change any time soon. I think the Suns are a bandwagon to jump on.

Q: Lastly, are there any teammates you think we should keep an eye on to have a big year?

ZU: Two boys that trained with the AFL [group] in preseason from the Suns Academy, Koby Coulson and Cooper Collins. They’ve been in unreal form and I think that they’d slot really well into an AFL environment so they’re definitely ones to look out for, especially come draft night.

>> MORE Q&As: Beau Addinsall | Jai Murray