2025 AFL Draft Preview: Gold Coast Suns


Michael Alvaro

Image Credit: Rookie Me Central

AFTER earning their first-ever finals berth and win, the Gold Coast Suns signalled their intent with two significant trade coups. Things are only set to get better for the Suns come draft time with a haul of Academy prospects which could rival the famed crop of 2023. It could see them make a high of five or six selections among what is expected to be a record-low number of draftees.

>> 100+ PROFILES: View the 2025 AFL Draft Guide

2025 RECORD: 7th H&A | 15-8 | 124.9% | Eliminated: Semi-Finals
2025 PICKS: 15, 18, 24, 28, 29, 36, 52
FUTURE PICKS: ’26 R2, MEL ’26 R2, ’26 R3, ESS ’26 R3, ’26 R4 | ’27 R1, ’27 R2, ’27 R4
ACADEMY/FATHER-SON NOMINEES: Zeke Uwland, Dylan Patterson, Beau Addinsall, Jai Murray, Koby Coulson, Cooper Collins (all Academy)

FIRST PICK:
Pick 15

Gold Coast’s pre-draft list of selections can essentially be thrown out the window, with early bids and pick swaps set to remodel the Suns’ haul. Ironically in a draft expected to draw record low numbers, the prolific Suns Academy program is poised to produce at least handful more graduates.

The first of Gold Coast’s matched bids will most likely be for Zeke Uwland. While back stress fractures restricted him to just four VFL games in the back-end of the season, some clubs regard the hard-running utility as the draft’s top prospect – he just didn’t get the chance to show it this year.

With several around-the-square players among the Suns’ five trade exits, Uwland will likely slot in seamlessly on a wing or flank with the long-term view to play midfield. He draws comparisons to Sydney star Errol Gulden for his slick left-foot kicking, versatility, and ability to cover the ground.

West Coast is the club most likely to place a bid for Uwland with pick two, though Richmond is also willing to keep the Suns accountable. That goes for Dylan Patterson, too, whose speed and daring outside style suits the Tigers needs. Either way, both are likely to be called out within the top five.

Dylan Patterson is set to attract an early bid | Image Credit: Rookie Me Central

REMAINING CROP:
Picks 18, 24, 28, 29, 36, 52

After Uwland and Patterson, there will likely be around a gap of around 15-20 picks until the Suns’ next bid match. That doesn’t mean they won’t get on the phones to work out a trade deal. Essendon is a club which may answer, potentially turning picks 18 and 36 into 21 and 27.

Clubs like Geelong and Fremantle could then be in to bid on the likes of Jai Murray and Beau Addinsall in the latter stages of night one. Murray is a clean and smooth moving midfielder who has been largely unsighted due to injury, while Addinsall is a high-volume, highly consistent accumulator.

There could well also be a bid for midfielder Koby Coulson in the National Draft, with the explosive in-and-under ball winner keen to get to the Suns. State combine invitee Cooper Collins may be another consideration as a strong runner who can slot in at either end of the ground, likely as a rookie.

As it stands, Gold Coast holds a haul of 3773 points to work with, so will have to get creative to bring in all of those five-to-six Academy graduates. The Suns will also have to consider Archie Hill for next year with no first-rounder in 2026, while being committed to re-listing Ben Jepson as a rookie.

KEY QUESTIONS:

– How early will the trigger be pulled on bids for Uwland and Patterson?
– Can Gold Coast work out a way to maintain its Academy products?
– Will Gold Coast look for value outside of its Academy haul?