{"id":196498,"date":"2025-07-29T21:08:54","date_gmt":"2025-07-29T11:08:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/?p=196498"},"modified":"2025-07-29T21:08:55","modified_gmt":"2025-07-29T11:08:55","slug":"vfl-player-focus-zeke-uwland-gold-coast-suns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2025\/07\/29\/vfl-player-focus-zeke-uwland-gold-coast-suns\/","title":{"rendered":"VFL Player Focus: Zeke Uwland (Gold Coast Suns)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

IT WAS a long time coming, but pick one contender Zeke Uwland<\/a> finally took the field for his first appearance at any level this year. The Gold Coast-tied prospect returned from back stress fractures for the Suns’ VFL side, which was undone by a mighty Brisbane fightback in Saturday’s Q-Clash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having watched the entire Under 18 National Championships from the sidelines, Uwland was medically cleared to get back into the action and did so on managed minutes. Sitting out the entire first quarter allowed him to ease into the game, with Gold Coast well on top at that point before being overrun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The brother of current-Sun Bodhi made his state league debut last year, when he was also the sole bottom-aged Under 18 All-Australian. Uwland is capable of playing wherever the game needs him and has drawn comparisons to his idol Errol Gulden<\/strong>, another hard-running left-footed talent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With plenty of runs on the board, many keen observers suggested he would be the top player in this year’s crop. Uwland hasn’t had the opportunity to outright prove that – until now – but remains firmly in the frame for pick one contendership. With that in mind, he is subject of this week’s Player Focus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"SUNSSUNS Academy<\/a>Utility<\/span><\/div>

Zeke Uwland<\/h4>

Height: <\/span>180cm<\/p>

Weight: <\/span> - <\/p>

DOB: <\/span>24-04-2007<\/p><\/div><\/div> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n

STRENGTHS:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

+ Consistency
+ Decision making
+ Kicking
+ Production
+ Running capacity
+ Toughness
+ Versatility<\/p>\n\n\n\n

STATS:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2024 AFL U18 National Championships (4 games)
<\/em><\/strong>23.0 disposals | 15.0 uncontested possession | 4.8 marks | 6.0 rebound 50s<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2024 Coates Talent League (4 games)
<\/em><\/strong>24.5 disposals | 5.0 marks | 5.3 rebound 50s | 2.0 goals (8 total)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ACCOLADES:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 2025 AFL Academy member
\u2013 2025 Suns Academy leadership group
\u2013 2024 National Futures match
\u2013 2024 U18 All-Australian
\u2013 2024 Allies U18 representative
\u2013 2024 VFL debut
\u2013 2024 Hunter Harrison Medal
\u2013 2024 Suns Academy Most Professional
\u2013 2024 Queensland U17 representative
\u2013 2023 Coates Talent League debut
\u2013 2023 U16 All-Australian<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PREVIOUS CONTENT:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

>> Preseason Q&A<\/a>
>> Race to #1<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Zeke Uwland fires off a kick | Image Credit: Rookie Me Central<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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PLAYER FOCUS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

2025 VFL Round 18<\/strong>
Gold Coast Suns 11.7 (73) def. by Brisbane Lions 12.10 (82)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

#51 <\/strong>Zeke Uwland<\/a> (Gold Coast)<\/strong>
Stats:<\/strong> 13 disposals, 5 marks, 2 tackles, 3 rebound 50s
5 intercept possessions, 8 uncontested possessions, 69% disposal efficiency<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FIRST HALF:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Uwland was managed in term one, arguably a wise move given the overuse injury which has kept him sidelined. He would occupy a wing once rotated into the game, taking little time to find his groove and track the ball from end-to-end. AFL-listed Lion Luke Beecken<\/strong> was among his direct opponents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He competed quite bravely in the air for a player his size, giving away a front-on free kick in his first involvement, but going on to take an intercept mark with fellow top draft prospect Daniel Annable<\/strong> closing in on him inside defensive 50. That act started the chain for an end-to-end goal to Caleb Lewis<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A moment of evasiveness caught the eye later on in the second quarter. Uwland snapped up a loose ball and dished off inboard, only to get it back under pressure and navigate two opponents with a duck and spin to find space. With such smarts, returning to football looked akin to riding a bike for Uwland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Zeke Uwland (left) competes for a mark | Image Credit: AFL Photos<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

SECOND HALF:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Uwland very nearly made an ideal start to the second half as he rose to mark Jed Walter<\/strong>\u2019s wayward snap from the boundary \u2013 again showcasing gutsy commitment in the air. Usually a sound kick of the ball, his set shot was straight but went through after being touched on the mark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the other end of the ground, Annable ensured he would pay for the rare error. Uwland\u2019s rustiness could be seen with a few more uncharacteristic turnovers by foot, with the 18-year-old looking to get his game going but not hitting short targets as reliably as he normally would.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Uwland also found it tough to stay tight in defensive transition, but adjusted to track his opponent better in the second half. He also had a productive fourth quarter, racking up plenty of the ball and showing great game awareness to take it on late in the piece \u2013 albeit in vein.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Uwland\u2019s competitiveness in that capacity translated to defensive acts, laying strong tackles and taking another brave intercept mark flying third up in the contest. He scrapped hard at ground level and while not overtly physical, was willing to go hard and came up with the ball cleanly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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