Queensland budding AFL stars will be on show at Tony Ireland Stadium next week, with the Club’s Academy team to play in the NAB Challenge curtain-raiser between the Gold Coast SUNS and the Brisbane Lions. 

Players from the Academy’s four North Queensland zones will compete in the exhibition match, as part of a three-day football camp in Townsville. 

The camp, which will focus heavily on education and player development, will be an opportunity for the region’s best players to warrant selection into the U18 Academy team, which will play against the Lions Academy as part of state trials. 

Led by GC SUNS Academy manager, Jason Torney, and head coach, Aaron Rogers as well as Queensland U18 coach, Adrian Fletcher, the North Queensland showdown will be a great opportunity to see the Academy’s northern-listed players in action. 

“These players have progressed through each level from U14, through to U16 and U18 and I’ve seen them develop,” Torney said.

“Each region has a lot of talent and these games give boys opportunity to display that.”

The GC SUNS Academy mentor said each player would be individual assessed by the program’s coaching and high performance teams, and could expect honest feedback on their strengths and areas of improvement. 

“We’ll be reviewing individual development plans and helping players get their heads around what they need to improve going forward, and what they’re doing well,” he said.

“There’ll be guest speakers on leadership and professionalism, and the whole camp’s based around self-motivation. 

“Being in that camp environment, having to perform and play at an elite level gives them a great experience.”

Although the bulk of the players range from the Academy’s Level Three program, a few select Level Two (U16) players have also been selected, including U15 All Australia player Jack Bowes.

The Academy Camp is part of the NAB Challenge weekend in Townsville, with the Brisbane Lions playing the GC SUNS on Sunday, February 23 at Tony Ireland Stadium.