{"id":210403,"date":"2026-03-23T16:46:34","date_gmt":"2026-03-23T06:46:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/?p=210403"},"modified":"2026-03-24T03:29:55","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T17:29:55","slug":"2026-talent-league-girls-preview-suns-academy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2026\/03\/23\/2026-talent-league-girls-preview-suns-academy\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 Talent League Girls preview: Suns Academy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>COMING off a couple of massive years with promoting Academy athletes into their AFLW squad, the Gold Coast Suns have set themselves up for a bright future. While the 2026 Academy does not quite have the depth of talent of its predecessors, there are still a number of promising prospects to keep an eye out for this season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-last-season\">LAST SEASON<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Played:<\/strong> 4<br><strong>Wins:<\/strong> 1<br><strong>Losses: <\/strong>3<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Suns Academy might have boasted the most draftable talent, but had the toughest draw of any Northern Academy side, taking on the top three teams for the year. While losses to Dandenong Stingrays (six points), Eastern Ranges (16) and Oakleigh Chargers (21) were not indicative of the potential of the Suns, they finished off with a big 35-point win over Northern Knights in Round 6 to end on a high.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-fixture\">FIXTURE<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Round 1:<\/strong> vs. Brisbane Lions Academy | March 29 @ People First Stadium<br><strong>Round 2:<\/strong> vs. Sydney Swans Academy | April 11 @ Blacktown International Sportspark<br><strong>Round 3: <\/strong>vs. GWS Giants Suns Academy | April 19 @ People First Stadium<br><strong>Round 4:<\/strong> vs. Murray Bushrangers | April 26 @ People First Stadium<br><strong>Round 5:<\/strong> vs. Tasmania Devils | May 3 @ Windsor Park<br><strong>Round 6:<\/strong> vs. Northern Knights | May 10 @ People First Stadium<br><strong>Round 7: <\/strong>vs. Gippsland Power | May 17 @ La Trobe University<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Gold Coast Suns Academy play four of its seven Talent League Girls games at home, while getting to experience travel to the other Eastern states. It should give the Suns a range of experiences, and they are capable of picking up a couple of wins along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.central.rookieme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/QLD-Summer-Browning-4-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-201098\" srcset=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/QLD-Summer-Browning-4-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/QLD-Summer-Browning-4-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/QLD-Summer-Browning-4-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/QLD-Summer-Browning-4-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/QLD-Summer-Browning-4-128x85.jpg 128w, https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/QLD-Summer-Browning-4-32x21.jpg 32w, https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/QLD-Summer-Browning-4.jpg 1944w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Summer Browning can provide plenty of run and carry for the Suns Academy and Queensland. Image credit: Rookie Me Central<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-key-players\">KEY PLAYERS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Gold Coast Suns Academy has a couple of exciting prospects who took part in the Under 17 Futures game last season. Both love to run and gun down the field, with <a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"156299\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/summer-browning\/\" target=\"_blank\">Summer Browning<\/a> capable of playing off a wing and half-back, but has the traits to move on-ball as well. In a similar vein, <a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"156314\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/stephanie-aguinaldo\/\" target=\"_blank\">Stephanie Aguinaldo<\/a> continues to impress as she got better throughout the season, predominantly playing in defence, but has the strength and power to also step into an on-ball role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Outside of those top two, <a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"156291\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/maddie-campbell\/\" target=\"_blank\">Maddie Campbell<\/a> is one who impressed coming through the 16s pathway a couple of years back, while talented athlete <a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"156326\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/ellie-da-ros\/\" target=\"_blank\">Ellie Da Ros<\/a> is one who could improve with more experience in the program. Watch for <a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"152423\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/asia-single\/\" target=\"_blank\">Asia Single<\/a> and <a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"156286\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/allie-cameron\/\" target=\"_blank\">Allie Cameron<\/a> are two bottom-agers to note down for 18 months time, with the former being the younger sister of Gold Coast player <strong>Lucy<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-preseason-draft-hopes\">PRESEASON DRAFT HOPES<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Given the depth of last year&#8217;s Suns Academy crop, there were always going to be unlucky players to miss out. Gold Coast has brought back a number of promising talents including midfielders <a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"139274\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/annabelle-foat\/\" target=\"_blank\">Annabelle Foat<\/a> and <a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"139264\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/sienna-burnham\/\" target=\"_blank\">Sienna Burnham<\/a> who will standout in the midfield, and tall utility <a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"188782\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/lilly-ann-ryder\/\" target=\"_blank\">Lilly-Ann Ryder<\/a> who played in defence for the Suns and Queensland last year. Small forward <a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"166875\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/amelia-ella\/\" target=\"_blank\">Amelia Ella<\/a> also provides key experience in the front half.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-summary\">SUMMARY<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Gold Coast Suns Academy will be a side to watch this season, having lost a stack of talent from its program to the AFLW last season, which means the side will be quite young and inexperienced compared to past years. It gives others the chance to stand up and play different roles or become those leaders, and they have an extended time in the Talent League to further showcase their skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-dc-block-dc-mention _dc_mention\"><div class=\"section-heading_wrap\"><span class=\"section-heading is-small\">Mentions<\/span><span class=\"hor-border\"><\/span><\/div><ul class=\"js-overflow-list overflow-list\"><li class=\"object-mention_single\"><div class=\"tag tag--is-clickable\"><a class=\"tag-text _dc_mention_p\" href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/player\/summer-browning\/\">Summer Browning<\/a><\/div><\/li><li class=\"object-mention_single\"><div class=\"tag tag--is-clickable\"><a class=\"tag-text _dc_mention_p\" href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/player\/stephanie-aguinaldo\/\">Stephanie Aguinaldo<\/a><\/div><\/li><li class=\"object-mention_single\"><div class=\"tag tag--is-clickable\"><a class=\"tag-text _dc_mention_p\" href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/player\/maddie-campbell\/\">Maddie Campbell<\/a><\/div><\/li><li class=\"object-mention_single\"><div class=\"tag tag--is-clickable\"><a class=\"tag-text _dc_mention_p\" href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/player\/ellie-da-ros\/\">Ellie Da Ros<\/a><\/div><\/li><li class=\"object-mention_single\"><div class=\"tag tag--is-clickable\"><a class=\"tag-text _dc_mention_p\" href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/player\/asia-single\/\">Asia Single<\/a><\/div><\/li><li class=\"object-mention_single\"><div class=\"tag tag--is-clickable\"><a class=\"tag-text _dc_mention_p\" href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/player\/allie-cameron\/\">Allie Cameron<\/a><\/div><\/li><li class=\"object-mention_single\"><div class=\"tag tag--is-clickable\"><a class=\"tag-text _dc_mention_p\" href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/player\/annabelle-foat\/\">Annabelle Foat<\/a><\/div><\/li><li class=\"object-mention_single\"><div class=\"tag tag--is-clickable\"><a class=\"tag-text _dc_mention_p\" href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/player\/sienna-burnham\/\">Sienna Burnham<\/a><\/div><\/li><li class=\"object-mention_single\"><div class=\"tag tag--is-clickable\"><a class=\"tag-text _dc_mention_p\" href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/player\/lilly-ann-ryder\/\">Lilly-Ann Ryder<\/a><\/div><\/li><li class=\"object-mention_single\"><div class=\"tag tag--is-clickable\"><a class=\"tag-text _dc_mention_p\" href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/player\/amelia-ella\/\">Amelia Ella<\/a><\/div><\/li><li class=\"js-dropdown dropdown overflowed\"><button class=\"btn btn-icon-only\"><span class=\"icon btn-icon\">\n                    <!-- icon - plus circle - 20px-->\n                    <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 20\">\n                        <path d=\"M15,9.28h-4.3V5h0A.72.72,0,1,0,9.28,5h0V9.28H5a.72.72,0,0,0,0,1.43H9.28V15a.72.72,0,0,0,1.43,0h0V10.71H15a.72.72,0,0,0,0-1.43Z\"\/>\n                        <path d=\"M10,0A10,10,0,1,0,20,10,10,10,0,0,0,10,0Zm0,18.57A8.57,8.57,0,0,1,10,1.43h0a8.57,8.57,0,0,1,0,17.14Z\"\/>\n                    <\/svg>\n                <\/span><\/button><div class=\"popover\"><div class=\"popover-content\"><ul class=\"popover-menu\"><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>COMING off a couple of massive years with promoting Academy athletes into their AFLW squad, the Gold Coast Suns have set themselves up for a bright future. While the 2026 Academy does not quite have the depth of talent of its predecessors, there are still a number of promising prospects to keep an eye out [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":64,"featured_media":201674,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[14920,22203,8,22198,18085,3132,20258,18234,137],"tags":[21468,21877,19707,21335,23329,22799,21477,19865,21478,22635],"class_list":["post-210403","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-aflw-draft","category-gold-coast-suns-academy-girls","category-news","category-northern-academies-coates-talent-league-girls","category-qaflw","category-queensland","category-talent-league-girls","category-team-preview","category-womens","tag-allie-cameron","tag-amelia-ella","tag-annabelle-foat","tag-asia-single","tag-ellie-da-ros","tag-lilly-ann-ryder","tag-maddie-campbell","tag-sienna-burnham","tag-stephanie-aguinaldo","tag-summer-browning"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/210403","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/64"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=210403"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/210403\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":210449,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/210403\/revisions\/210449"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/201674"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=210403"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=210403"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=210403"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}