Talent shines bright for Suns in the north
NO ONE knows more about emerging AFL talent in regional Queensland than Jason Torney and he believes north Queensland will be punching above its weight in 2019.
The former Richmond and Adelaide footballer, who played 195 games at the elite level, says the north Queensland Suns academy squad is set to surpass its Gold Coast counterparts next year.
Torney, now Gold Coast talent academy manager, is predicting a big year for the north under-16’s age group before they pick Suns the academy series team in April.
The Suns hosted a training session and induction at Watsons Oval on Monday to outline the year ahead for the Far North academy members and their families.
Across Queensland, the club academies are taking a more significant role with the under-16’s programs than what they have done in previous years.
Following the recent testing day at AFL Cape York House, the Suns Cairns-based squad will train together over the summer before embarking on a number of carnivals in 2019, leading towards potential selection in the Suns Academy Series team.
The first step is the North Queensland Championships to select the North Queensland team to participate in the Gold Coast Suns Academy Championships.
From the Championships the Suns staff will select and under-16 Suns Academy squad to play games against the Brisbane Lions academy.
“It is likely the Cairns under-16’s team will be super strong, like they are always are, but I am suggesting the north Queensland team when they come play against the Gold Coast will be the team to beat,” Torney said.
“Just looking at talent. It is going to run pretty thick.
“It is exciting when we see so much talent in north Queensland because we can continue that development.
“North Queensland have a high level of talent and they will compete very well.”
One of the benefits of the Suns academy is members in north Queensland are being put through the same drills, using the same terminology and same level of coaching as those on the Gold Coast.
The Suns north Queensland girls academy members follow a different path to the boys, heading straight into the Suns academy squad with the Gold Coast-based talent.
Torney is looking forward to welcoming Manunda Hawks talent Alex Davies in his permanent move to the Gold Coast next year.
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