Gold Coast Academy product Leonardo Lombard looms as another potential top 10 draft selection out of the Suns' pathways program following a stellar past 18 months across many levels.
The explosive and smart midfielder quickly made his name known in 2023, debuting at VFL level for Gold Coast at the age of 16 before holding his spot and playing a part in the club's premiership run that year.
His success on the senior stage would come shortly after Lombard flexed his midfield and forward craft for the Allies as a bottom-ager in their undefeated U18s National Championships carnival.
Lombard ended his 2023 season with a promising performance in the Future Stars game on grand final day a week after winning the VFL flag, recording 24 disposals, five tackles and four inside 50s at the MCG.
Entering 2024 as one of the top-rated teenagers in the country, the Carrara-tied onballer did his stocks no harm across the course of his draft campaign, representing the AFL Academy, the Allies, Gold Coast's Academy and the Suns' VFL side once again.
His championships for the Allies would bear the most fruit, with Lombard taking out the Larke Medal as the carnival's best player alongside Vic Country's Harvey Langford after averaging 26.3 disposals, 4.8 clearances, 6.0 inside 50s, 5.0 score involvements, 4.5 tackles and a goal per game.
He would put up similar figures across his trio of Talent League games this year, while his pair of appearances for the AFL Academy were further evidence of Lombard's ability to find the ball and have an impact against senior opposition.
If that wasn't enough, the Broadbeach native collected 28 disposals and eight marks against Richmond in his return to the VFL in 2024, while a 22-disposal, three-goal outing in Coburg in August was exceptional. Lombard would play eight games in the VFL for the Suns this year as a midfield-forward threat.
His AFL Draft Combine testing only helped his case further, with Lombard taking out the agility test with a time of 7.812 seconds and would record the second best 20m sprint time of 2.851 seconds.
His speed, damage and flair around midfield earn Lombard comparisons to Swans gun Chad Warner, while his midfield craft and work rate have him primed to try and mirror Suns co-captain Touk Miller in the years to come.
A bid for Lombard is expected to fall midway through the first round of the draft, with a selection coming close to the top five at the earliest.
Position: Midfielder
Height: 179cm
State: Queensland
Club: Broadbeach
Speed
Work Rate
Explosiveness
Ball-Winning
Senior Experience
Pick 7-15
Gold Coast (Matched Bid)
"He's been in our Academy since the age of 13. He's acquitted himself really well and we saw him in the VFL last year with us and he's taken a step forward this year. Had an excellent carnival with the Allies, where he was named MVP, so Leo should be really proud of himself." - Kall Burns