PILING on 13 of the last 15 goals, Sydney Swans Academy ended its 2025 AFL Under 16 Championships on a high by storming past the Gold Coast Suns Academy at Fankhauser Reserve in Southport yesterday. The Suns Academy were coming off a forgettable 164-point loss to Tasmania on Monday, while the Swans were also out for vengeance after going down to Brisbane Lions Academy by 50 points later the same day.

Danger signs were on the wall early for the Suns as the Swans slammed home the first two goals in four minutes, but then the home side ripped up the script by booting two of their own, and eclipsing the 1.1 (7) score they achieved against Tasmania. However any thought of a comeback was quickly quelled as the visitors booted seven unanswered goals to end the half and lead by 44 points at the main break.

Gold Coast came out firing in the third term to kick another couple of goals and trim the deficit to as little as 33 points at the 14-minute mark of the third term. From there however, the Swans piled on 6.6 to 0.2 to run away easy 73-point winners in the end.

Monte Cairns (Swans Academy) had a remarkable game of 29 disposals, 11 marks, eight tackles, six clearances, four inside 50s and 2.3, and also collected the Swans’ MVP, while Oliver Bennett was best-on for the Suns, and won his side’s MVP too after 18 disposals, four tackles, six clearances, three inside 50s and a goal.

SUNS ACADEMY 2.1 | 2.2 | 4.4 | 4.5 (29)
SWANS ACADEMY 5.1 | 9.4 | 10.6 | 15.12 (102)

GOALS:
Suns Academy: O. Bennett, M. Seebeck, B. Schellebeck, C. Motum
Swans Academy: S. Mok 3, D. Marshall-Orr 3, D. Delaney-Fielding 2, M. Cairns 2, T. Epis 2, C. Edwards, N. Keam, I. Wellington

BEST:
Suns Academy: O. Bennett, K. Green, M. Seebeck, P. Fitzgibbon, T. Larkins
Swans Academy: M. Cairns, S. Mok. C. McClennan, L. Macri, D. Delaney-Fielding

SUNS ACADEMY:

#1 Oliver Bennett
Midfielder | 169cm | 01/05/2009

Stats: 18 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles, 6 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 1 goal

The Gold Coast Suns Academy MVP capped off his carnival with another reliable performance, kicking an early goal from 40m out to get his team up and about. Throughout the four quarters he battled on, did his best work in close and was able to continually get hand or foot to ball even when confronted. Few could doubt his endeavour given his ability to win the ball both off the deck under pressure, or via hand in transition.

#13 Klae Green
Defender | 178cm | 23/01/2009

Stats: 16 disposals, 4 marks, 4 rebound 50s

Has a little bit of X-factor about the way he moves and runs, Green loves to sidestep opponents and look for the one-two down the field with a very aggressive gamestyle off half-back. He would often look to fill into the hole to intercepted and take off, and while like a few Suns defenders at times that left goalside a little vulnerable, the balance will come with time. Has some raw traits to work with going forward.

SWANS ACADEMY:

#4 Levi Macri
Defender | 173cm | 18/04/2009

Stats: 22 disposals, 5 marks, 3 rebound 50s

A prolific short-kick specialist, Macri was pinpoint with his passes out of defence, often looking for one-two’s and then weighting his kicks, often on the 45 to open up a corridor passage. His head was on a swivel and though at times he took risks when arching the back and bursting away, it caught the opposition on the hop and Macri was a playmaker from the back half of the ground to begin scoring chains.

#10 Charlie McClennan
Midfielder | 178cm | 16/03/2009

Stats: 25 disposals, 6 marks, 4 tackles, 4 clearances, 7 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

Another player who created some run and transitioned the ball well between midfield at attack, McClennan was consistently lively on the inside and his centre bounce work in particular really stood out, winning three of his four clearances straight out of the middle and pumping it inside 50. Used the ball well by foot and looks for the short, sharp kicks as well to advance the ball into dangerous spots or scoring positions.

#16 Sebastian Mok
Wing/Forward | 178cm | 02/06/2009

Stats: 23 disposals, 8 marks, 8 tackles, 3 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s, 3 goals

A damaging and smart player who knows where to run and find space to receive the ball, the Swans winger ran amok on the outside before then going forward and playing as a small, lead-out target. He added a point of difference to the look inside 50, kicking all three of his goals in the final term after spraying a couple out of bounds earlier in the match. Other than his flying shots, he used the ball effectively and was a headache for the opposition with nice aerial work.

#28 Duke Marshall-Orr
Forward | 186cm | 03/04/2009

Stats: 13 disposals, 7 marks, 1 tackle, 1 inside 50, 3 goals, 1 behind

Got the party started with a goal in the opening 90 seconds from a strong mark out in front, and by six minutes into the second term had already kicked three to his name. Marshall-Orr’s eight-disposal, four-mark and three-goal first half was enormous before being rotated higher up where he showed some nice moves through evasion and was setting up teammates instead.

#29 Monte Cairns
Midfielder/Forward | 185cm | 03/06/2009

Stats: 29 disposals, 11 marks, 8 tackles, 6 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 2 goals, 3 behinds

The star of the show amongst a field of nominees, Cairns genuinely was having the time of his life in the froward half. He was dominating around the stoppages, winning the ball back for his team with fierce tackling and his ability to execute under pressure was sublime. Got a taste for the goals late in the second term with a couple of quick ones, then was taking pot shots any time the opportunity presented itself. Was unlucky to miss a couple including a late one that was touched, so could have easily finished with three or four majors. Danced around opponents at times on his way to the Swans’ MVP.

#31 Dashiel Delaney-Fielding
Forward | 187cm | 05/01/2009

Stats: 14 disposals, 5 marks, 4 tackles, 1 clearance, 1 inside 50, 2 goals, 2 behinds

Should really have finished with four goals to his name for the day with hs two behinds coming in the form of posters. The first was from a checkside snap that did not quite get enough bend, while his second was the Jason Dunstall-despised dribble attempt running into goal which bounced the wrong way from 15m and collected the woodwork. Otherwise he kicked two first term goals and presented as a marking target inside 50, working up the ground as well to be one of a number of mid-180cm Swans who got involved in transition.