THE GOLD Coast Suns Academy boasts some prime AFL Draft talent in 2023, headlined by a trio of National Academy inductees.

Among them are nippy midfielder-forward Jake Rogers and mobile ruckman Ethan Read, both of whom sat down with Rookie Me Central for a Q&A at the recent Queensland preseason testing event.

>> Squad: 2023 Suns Academy

After being put through their paces in a variety of fitness tests, the pair discussed in brief a range of topics; from their strengths and weaknesses on-field, to their AFL Academy experiences, and training with the senior Suns.

Rogers and Read, along with key forward Jed Walter are set to turn out for the National Academy in an AFL curtain raiser on April 15, while also proving key cogs in the Suns’ and Allies lineups as the year progresses.

>> AFL Draft | Ones to Watch: Allies

Q&A

ETHAN READ

Q: How has preseason been?

A: It’s been really good. I got the opportunity to train with the Suns so I’ve been feeling really fit, and have been working on my improvement areas.

Q: What’s your best position?

A: I’d say ruck, and then maybe a little bit up forward but I’ve just got to develop that role a bit more.

Q: What are your strengths?

A: My strengths are probably my around the ground work, my aerobic ability, and then my skills below my knees.

Q: Is there anything you’re looking to improve on?

A: My marking, my ruck craft, and just my strength.

Q: Do you have any goals set up for 2023?

A: I like to set some short-term goals, so just to get better at my improvement areas and making the (representative) games and teams, and to get drafted.

Q: How has being part of the AFL Academy been?

A: It’s a good opportunity. You’ve got all the coaches and facilities, all the boys, it’s a good standard of footy. So far it’s been exceptional.

Q: How has your bottom-age season set you up for your top-age campaign?

A: I feel like it’s prepared me pretty well. I had a good year so I’ll just take that into this year and take my game to another level.

Q: Do you have any mentors or players you mould your game on?

A: Not really. I take parts from other ruckmen and forwards, but I don’t really have a set player who I really model my game off.

Q: How has the Suns Academy helped your development?

A: They’ve been really good with obviously getting to train with the AFL, and the coaches are really supportive, just all the boys and everyone around the Suns are really good.

Q: AFL club supported?

A: The Suns.

JAKE ROGERS

Q: How has preseason been?

A: It’s been really good. I got the opportunity to train with the AFL Suns for two months over their preseason. I got great learnings out of that and feel like I took a lot out of it. So preseason’s gone pretty well.

Q: What’s your best position?

A: Probably the midfield to half-forward role. I’ve played a bit of that, switching in and out of those roles.

Q: What are your strengths?

A: My speed and agility, then also my decision making and my ground balls.

Q: Is there anything you’re looking to improve on?

A: I’ve been working on my ability to cover the ground and my fitness over the preseason, so I think that’s probably my main improvement area.

Q: Do you have any goals set up for 2023?

A: It’s probably a clichéd one, but to play consistent footy and also to play at the highest level I can and have a good year.

Q: How has being part of the AFL Academy been?

A: We’ve had one camp now and we had plenty of Zoom calls, but it’s been really good, a great opportunity. All the boys are good down there, ‘Tarks’ (coach, Tarkyn Lockyer) is really good so yeah, it’s been good fun already.

Q: How has your bottom-age season set you up for your top-age campaign?

A: I think I had a good 17s year, that sort of prepped me for this year and taught me what it takes to play at the highest level. So I think playing the Futures and Allies games at the highest level has really got me going into this year really confident of what I can do.

Q: Do you have any mentors or players you mould your game on?

A: A few from the Suns sort of took me under their wing. Noah Anderson was big, and Sam Flanders. They showed me the ropes when I was doing a preseason there. I probably try model my game off players like Shai Bolton and Kozzie Pickett, the short and agile players that can make an impact on the game.

Q: How has the Suns Academy helped your development?

A: I feel like it’s given us really good opportunities to train with the AFL team, just opportunity really. You get great learnings and make great friendships so it’s been really good.

Q: AFL club supported?

A: I’ve always been a Pies supporter, growing up down in Melbourne.