GOLD Coast Suns Academy were touted as having an enormous amount of draftable talent, particularly in the top-end this season, and there is no doubt that has become the case with a whopping seven players invited to the National Draft Combine. That means more than six per cent of players invited are from the Academy, with a further three testing at the State Draft Combine to notch up double-digit invitees.

There has been, and will be plenty of talk around the top-end stars highlighted by Ava Usher, Georja Davies, Dekota Baron and most recently, Sunny Lappin. No doubt the rise of Mikayla Nurse and power of Alannah Welsh will make it six top in the top 30, most of whom will be top 15 barring clubs not bidding high. Lappin is the one point of difference, with Carlton tipped to win her services as part of the father-daughter eligibility, though that is not officially locked in. Though out with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury from early in the season, Bronte Parker is the other Suns Academy member tipped to go in the first half of the draft.

However the attention then turns to list spots. Even if Gold Coast grabs enough picks to match the various bids that come in, the Suns still need to have the list spots available to take the players, which is where they will begin to prioritise the needs. While for the top-end stars it is not really a worry given the amount of interest they will receive from across the competition, when it comes to Northern Academy talent outside that first or second round group, it can leave them in a little bit of limbo.

That is to say, clubs outside the Academy ties are more likely to focus on talent from within their own states for most of the year, or the best talent around the country that is not club tied. This article will look at the players who are considered good enough to go in the National Draft, but will likely be up for the open pool for clubs to consider. To make sure they do not get forgotten, here are a handful of names for clubs to keep in mind both with Draft Combine invites, and those on the fringes.

The Surger

Rhianna Ingram (Southport)
Defender | 167cm | 20/10/2007

AFLW U18s Stats: 17.3 disposals (75.4% disposal efficiency), 1.5 marks, 2.5 tackles, 4.8 rebound 50s

The Southport running defender is one of the more damaging players by foot coming out of the back half, and while statistically some might look and assume she has the dime-a-dozen cheap touches behind the ball, she is anything but. Ingram might take kickouts, but she drives the ball up the ground, intercepts a lot of the play at half-back and is known as a ‘surger’ with the way she aggressively attacks, and uses the ball effectively. Ingram can win scrappy ball and turn it into possession retention. While she is the one player on this list with a National Draft Combine invite, she has a real specific role that will come down to the club that needs her skillset.

The Linebreaker

Aleah Stringer (Bond University)
Forward/Wing | 165cm | 30/01/2007

AFLW U18s Stats: 14.8 disposals (57.6% disposal efficiency), 2.5 marks, 3.3 tackles, 2.0 clearances, 1.8 inside 50s, 2.0 rebound 50s

The hard-running Stringer has the capacity to play in multiple positions with her ability to use her speed and break lines consistently. She backs herself, works into multiple chain possessions and will set up teammates going forward. She worked up the ground quite often for Queensland, even running off a wing at times and assisting behind the ball, and while not hitting the scoreboard herself at the National Championships, Stringer played a key role on the outside. She might not have the polish that Nurse has, but she is tough and has deservedly earned a State Draft Combine invite off her form.

The Natural Footballer

Annabelle Foat (Bond University)
Utility | 164cm | 23/04/2007

AFLW U18s Stats: 15.8 disposals (65.1% disposal efficiency), 5.0 tackles, 2.5 clearances, 1.8 rebound 50s

Foat has been among the next tier of Queensland talent for a couple of years now, and she is one of those natural footballers who just finds the ball and uses it neatly. The knock will come on her leg speed and therefore she might not be the flashiest player going around, but what Foat offers is high-level footy smarts and good skills, particularly by hand when under pressure. While she has predominantly played in the midfield, Foat is viewed by talent staff as a potential future defender, acting as that player who can use the ball effectively and decisively from half-back to deliver to a teammate down the ground. The other player with a State Draft Combine invite, Foat represented the All-Stars against the National Academy both times this year, and across 2025 has spent time in all thirds of the ground.

Clean and Tough

Sienna Burnham (Southport)
Midfielder/Forward | 162cm | 12/07/2007

AFLW U18s Stats: 11.0 disposals (56.8% disposal efficiency, 62.2% contested), 1.8 marks, 1.8 clearances. 2.8 inside 50s

Another tough prospect who is a see-ball, get-ball player is Burnham who has spent time mostly as a midfielder, but can go forward or even run off a wing. With great clean hands and an aggressive playstyle, Burnham captained the Under 16s Suns Academy back in 2023 amongst the star-studded squad of now top-agers. Another member of the Southport Sharks, Burnham is one rated highly internally, being incredibly coachable and driven to go to the next level. At 162cm she projects as a potential defensive small forward, but also has great speed to impact offensively as well, which is why she has succeeded through the middle. Certainly a player who can only grow from being in an elite environment at the top level.

Enormous Upside

Millar Brosnan-Ball (Bond University)
Ruck/Key Defender | 177cm | 29/12/2006

AFLW U18s Stats: 6.3 disposals (68% disposal efficiency), 2.8 tackles, 6.5 hitouts, 1.0 clearances, 1.0 rebound 50s

Brosnan-Ball spent her time at the AFLW Under 18 National Championships as a key defender after playing as a ruck throughout the Suns Academy stint in the Coates Talent League Girls competition. Standing at 177cm with some impressive traits, Brosnan-Ball is a long-term prospect, but impressed through her 2025 season with the way she adapted. Though an over-ager, Brosnan-Ball is only that by just three days, and while able to win her share of ruck contests, caught the eye with her follow-up work and pressure. Quick and impactful post-contest, the Queensland tall is considered highly developable across a variety of key posts.

The Athlete

Lilly-Ann Ryder (Southport)
Tall Defender/Forward | 174cm | 24/04/2007

AFLW U18s Stats: 6.8 disposals (66.7% disposal efficiency), 1.3 marks, 2.0 tackles, 1.5 rebound 50s

Ryder is another high-upside player with some terrific athletic traits that shine across the board. For the Suns Academy and Queensland, Ryder played in the defensive half, averaging an impressive 13.0 disposals, 3.5 marks, 4.3 tackles and 4.5 rebound 50s for the Suns Academy, before sharing the load for the Maroons and naturally her numbers dropped. While only cracking in for one game at senior level for Southport this season, Ryder was a key player in Southport’s run to the Reserves flag, booting eight goals in four games including five across two finals and three in the grand final. She can play up either end and can play on talls or smalls.

MEANWHILE AT THE LIONS…

Brisbane also has a host of potential Academy graduates to watch, though admittedly the next couple of years are where it will blossom for the Lions. In 2025, their sole State Draft Combine invitee is ruck Monique Corrigan who has plenty of upside and will get first hands to it more often than not at 187cm.

Defenders Niamh McCarthy and Jemma Foley are other talented Brisbane prospects, with McCarthy a 177cm tall who stepped up in the ruck in the absence of Corrigan, but is best suited as that intercept third tall.

Foley is a rebounding defender with elite football IQ who unfortunately suffered back stress fractures to end her season early and miss the national championships. Touted preseason by coach Emma Zielke as ‘one to watch’, Foley remains a name to keep in mind, but has had limited exposure in 2025.