StreetSmarts SUNS Academy graduate Zeke Uwland has tonight become a Gold Coast SUNS AFL player at tonight’s 2025 Telstra AFL Draft.
A bid was placed by the West Coast Eagles at Pick 2, with the SUNS quickly matching the bid to secure the services of the highly touted Burleigh Bombers junior.
The matched bid sees Uwland become the highest AFL draft selection for a male StreetSmarts SUNS Academy graduate (previously Jed Walter: Pick 3, 2023).
GC SUNS National Recruiting Manager Kall Burns says it’s a great moment to welcome another Uwland to the SUNS AFL list.
“Throughout his young career as a Burleigh Bombers player and a member of our StreetSmarts SUNS Academy, Zeke’s work ethic and commitment to getting the best out of himself has been exemplary,” Burns said.
“He’s faced plenty of challenges over the last 12 months, but he’s thoroughly earned this opportunity to become a Gold Coast SUNS AFL player.
“It’s also a fantastic story for our club for Zeke to join his older brother Bodhi on the list – hopefully they get the chance to run out together before too long.”
Despite being sidelined throughout much of 2025 through injury, Uwland’s outstanding running ability and clean skills established himself as one of the top young footballers in the country.
He was the only bottom-ager named in the Under 18 All Australian side in 2024, also making his VFL debut and winning the prestigious Hunter Harrison Medal that year, following in the footsteps of now SUNS AFL teammate Ethan Read.
The Burleigh Bombers product was a member of the Marsh AFL National Academy in 2025, and averaged 16.5 disposals in four VFL games late in the season.
He joins older brother Bodhi on the SUNS AFL list with the potential of becoming just the second pair of brothers to represent the club in the same season, joining Gary Ablett Jnr and Nathan Ablett.
Zeke Uwland
State: Queensland
State League Club: StreetSmarts Gold Coast SUNS Academy
Community Club: Burleigh Bombers
Date of Birth: 24/04/07
Height: 180cm
