Gold Coast SUNS young gun Ethan Read has been named the Round 21 Telstra AFL Rising Star nominee following a superb performance in Saturday’s record-breaking win over Richmond.
The 20-year-old kicked two goals to go with 13 disposals and nine marks - both career-best figures - along with nine score involvements, two tackles and five hitouts.
The StreetSmarts SUNS Academy graduate and Palm Beach Currumbin Lions junior becomes the club’s 27th Rising Star nominee and the first of 2025.
Boasting elite aerobic capacity and a strong overhead mark, Read has become a consistent contributor for the SUNS in 2025, kicking 15 goals including at least one in the past six matches.
Taken at Pick 9 in the 2023 AFL Draft, Read made his AFL debut in Gather Round last season and has since played 19 AFL games.
In his draft year, Read was an AFL National Academy member, earning Under 18 All-Australian honours and winning the Hunter Harrison Medal for his performance in the Coates Talent League.
Read is the third player from the club’s 2023 Draft cohort to have received a Rising Star nomination, alongside Will Graham and Jake Rogers who were both nominated in 2024.
2025 Telstra AFL Rising Star nominees:
- OR/R1: Sam Lalor (Richmond)
- R2: Connor O'Sullivan (Geelong Cats)
- R3: Harvey Langford (Melbourne)
- R4: Levi Ashcroft (Brisbane Lions)
- R5: Archie Roberts (Essendon)
- R6: Murphy Reid (Fremantle)
- R7: Xavier Lindsay (Melbourne)
- R8: Hugo Garcia (St Kilda)
- R9: Nate Caddy (Essendon)
- R10: Cooper Lord (Carlton)
- R11: Angus Clarke (Essendon)
- R12: Ed Allan (Collingwood)
- R13: Dan Curtin (Adelaide Crows)
- R14: Tyrell Dewar (West Coast Eagles)
- R15: Finn O'Sullivan (North Melbourne)
- R16: Clay Hall (West Coast Eagles)
- R17: Isaac Kako (Essendon)
- R18: Luke Trainor (Richmond)
- R19: Ashton Moir (Carlton)
- R20: Joe Fonti (GWS GIANTS)
- R21: Ethan Read (Gold Coast SUNS)
