Ethan Read
| Ethan Read | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Ethan Read | ||
| Nickname(s) | Creek,[1] The Unicorn[2] | ||
| Date of birth | 7 July 2005 | ||
| Original team(s) | Palm Beach Currumbin (QAFL) / Gold Coast Suns Academy (Talent League) | ||
| Draft | No. 9, 2023 AFL draft | ||
| Height | 202 cm (6 ft 8 in) | ||
| Weight | 92 kg (203 lb) | ||
| Position(s) | Ruck, Forward | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Gold Coast | ||
| Number | 20 | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 2024– | Gold Coast | 2 (3) | |
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 5, 2024. | |||
Ethan Read is a professional Australian rules footballer who was selected by the Gold Coast Suns with the ninth pick in the 2023 AFL draft.[3]
Early life[edit]
Read was raised on the Gold Coast where he attended St Andrews Lutheran College throughout his upbringing.[4] He began playing junior football at nine years of age when signed up to play for the Palm Beach Currumbin Lions alongside future AFL teammates Jed Walter and Will Graham.[5] Read joined the Gold Coast Suns Academy at 13 years of age, but was not considered a standout in his early teenage years.[6]
At 16 years of age, Read experienced an 11 cm growth spurt and he was subsequently put on the radar of several AFL teams due to his newly developed 200 cm frame.[7] The following year he received national exposure for the first time when as a bottom ager he was selected to represent the Allies several times in the U18 National Championships as well as the Gold Coast Suns Academy in the U19 Talent League.[8] His performances at the representative and club levels led to Read being placed in the AFL's 30-player National Academy program on the eve of his draft year and he was generally considered a second round draft prospect at the time.[9]
Read appeared in the Allies' first U18 National Championship win and his performances earned him the starting ruckman position in the 2023 U18 All-Australian team.[10] A month later he made his VFL debut for the Gold Coast, accruing 12 disposals and four behinds.[11] In mid-November, he finished second in the national combine 2km time trial by running a 5:56 and was rated as highly as the third best prospect in the 2023 draft pool by some recruiters.[12] A week later, he was drafted to his hometown team the Gold Coast Suns with pick 9 in the 2023 AFL draft after the Suns elected to match a bid from the Geelong Cats.[13] Read grew up supporting the Gold Coast Suns[14] and described being drafted to the club with his friends as a "dream come true".[15]
AFL career[edit]
Read made his AFL debut for the Suns at 18 years of age in round 4 of the 2024 season against the Greater Western Sydney Giants in Mount Barker and kicked a goal in his first game.[16]
References[edit]
- ^ "Why is Ethan Read's nickname Creek?". SEN. 2024-04-04. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
- ^ ""DOING IT QUITE EASY": SUNS 'UNICORN' DRAFTEE'S STAGGERING ATHLETICISM IMPRESSING TEAMMATES". SEN. 2024-02-13. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
- ^ "Read picked No.9 in AFL Draft". Gold Coast Suns. 2023-11-20. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
- ^ "How Suns' Academy graduates are impacting on and off the field". Australian Football League. 2024-04-16. Retrieved 2024-04-17.
- ^ "Behind the Draft - Get to know Ethan Read". Gold Coast Suns. 2023-11-22. Retrieved 2024-01-29.
- ^ "Six Queenslanders selected in the 2023 AFL Draft". AFL Queensland. 2023-11-24. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
- ^ "Ethan Read's rise from talented teen to best ruckman in his draft class". Courier Mail. 2023-11-19. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
- ^ "No.1 contender, brother of Port star headline 2023 Academy intake". Australian Football League. 2022-11-18. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
- ^ "2022 Allies squad announced". AFL Queensland. 2022-05-20. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
- ^ "Allies dominate U18 All-Australian team after unbeaten carnival for 2023". Australian Football League. 2023-07-21. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
- ^ "Cal Twomey's Phantom Form Guide: Top draft prospects' August ranking". Australian Football League. 2023-08-16. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
- ^ "THE ACADEMY RUCKMAN THAT A RIVAL RECRUITING MANAGER RATES AS A TOP-THREE PROSPECT". SEN. 2024-11-15. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
- ^ "Read picked No.9 in AFL Draft". Gold Coast Suns. 2022-11-20. Retrieved 2024-02-18.
- ^ "We asked 20 draft prospects which AFL teams they support. Some could ultimately land at their favourite club". Fox Sports Australia. 2023-11-08. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
- ^ "Suns to unveil three debutants in Giants clash". Gold Coast Suns. 2024-04-03. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
- ^ Smith, Martin (2024-04-07). "Suns stars set for new roles as Dimma lauds sprightly display". Australian Football League. Retrieved 2024-04-07.
External links[edit]
- Ethan Read's profile on the official website of the Gold Coast Football Club