WHO IS THE BEST COAST AFL TALENT?

TOM BOSWELL’S 2018 POWER RANKINGS

1. DAYNE BEAMS

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Club: Brisbane Lions Junior Clubs: Mudgeeraba/Southport Age: 28 Games played: 148 Position: Midfield

Bio: Started playing football at Mudgeeraba before the Palm Beach Currumbin graduate shifted to the Southport Sharks. Season prospects: His presence on a young Lions list is critical to the clubs development over the next few years.

2. DAYNE ZORKO

Club: Brisbane Lions Junior clubs: Surfers Paradise/Broadbeach Age: 29 Games played: 123 Position: Midfield

Bio: Continually overlooked at the AFL draft but his constant achievements at club level made recruiters take notice. Season prospects: Biggest challenge for Lions vice-captain will be continuing his form from the last couple of seasons.

3. SAM GILBERT

Club: St Kilda Junior Clubs: Tweed Coolangatta/Southport Age: 31 Games played: 197 Position: Defender/Midfield Bio: Didn’t play until 16 but recruiters came knocking when he impressed for Southport and the Queensland rep side. Season prospects: One of the most experienced Saints still possesses speed and versatility. Still has a lot to give.

4. LACHIE WELLER

Club: Gold Coast Suns Junior Clubs: Broadbeach/Southport Age: 22 Games played: 48 Position: Halfback/Midfield

Bio: Spent time in Suns academy but drafted by Fremantle due to his later start in the club’s system. Has since returned. Season prospects: The top Coast recruit at the end of 2017 and has big expectations as he hopes to become a regular.

5. RORY THOMPSON

Club: Gold Coast Suns Junior Clubs: Southport

Age: 27 Games played: 87 Position: Defender

Bio: Thompson crafted his game as a junior at Southport before joining the Suns TAC Cup team in 2009.

Season prospects: Injuries have been Thompson’s greatest downfall, his absence at times hurting his form.

6. JESSE JOYCE

Club: Gold Coast Suns Junior Clubs: Palm Beach Currumbin Age: 20 Games played: 29 Position: Defender

Bio: Former Suns academy player was taken as a rookie in 2016 and has become a regular of the club’s backline. Season prospects: Has worked on his speed over the off season and what they need after Adam Saad’s exit.

7. CLAYE BEAMS

Club: Brisbane Lions Junior Clubs: Mudgeeraba Age: 26 Games played: 54 Position: Defender Bio: A former first grade cricketer who gave footy away for two years. After watching brother Dayne play itsparked his passion for the game again. Season prospects: Given a lifeline by Lions who offered him a rookie spot at the end of last year.

8. BRAYDON PREUSS

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Club: North Melbourne Junior clubs: Surfers Paradise/Townsville Age: 22 Games played: 8 Position: Ruckman

Bio: The former Townsville junior rugby league player relocated to the Gold Coast when the Suns offered him a place in their academy.

Season prospects: The presence of Todd Goldstein could mean more time in the VFL for Preuss but with Majak Daw shifting in to the backline, it’s one less rival for the top job.

9. BRAD SCHEER

Club: Gold Coast Suns Junior clubs: Palm Beach Currumbin Age: 19 Games played: 4 Position: Midfield/forward

Bio: Born in Western Australia, Scheer moved to the Gold Coast at the age of 13 to pursue footy further.

Season prospects: Scheer got his chance at forward in 2017 under Rodney Eade but competition for spots may mean he spends the bulk of 2018 playing in the NEAFL.

10. MAX SPENCER

Club: Gold Coast Suns Junior club: Palm Beach Currumbin Age: 20 Games played: 5 Position: Tall defender

Bio: Second-year rookie was given a baptism of fire when he made his debut last season against eventual premiers Richmond without Steven May and Rory Thompson by his side. Season prospects: If the Suns avoid major injuries, Spencer will likely continue to develop with the club’s reserves side.

11. BRAYDEN CROSSLEY

Club: Suns Junior clubs: Palm Beach Currumbin/Southport Age: 18 Games played: 0 Position: Ruckman

Bio: At 198cm Crossley is an undersized ruckman who has a reputation for his physicality in the contest.

Season prospects: Crossley will go learn from the likes of Jarrod Witts and Tom Nicholls in his first season.

12. CONNOR NUTTING

Club: Gold Coast Suns Junior club: Broadbeach Age: 18 Games played: 0 Position: Halfback

Bio: Spent a year in the Suns academy at the age of 16 but was dropped due to his lack of running capacity. Season prospects: One of Gold Coast’s youngest and raw talents. Nutting will likely spend 2017 in the NEAFL.

13. JACOB DAWSON

Club: Gold Coast Suns Junior club: Currumbin Age: 18 Games played: Position: Midfield

Bio: Part of PBC’s 2017 QAFL premiership side, Dawson was taken as a rookie at the end of 2017.

Season prospects: Dawson will go under the tutelage of Suns NEAFL coach Nick Malceski in 2018.