Ethan Read

❧

Wikipedia

Ethan Read
Personal information
Full name Ethan Read
Nickname(s) Creek,[1] The Unicorn[2]
Date of birth (2005-07-07) 7 July 2005 (age 20)
Place of birth Gold Coast, Queensland
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 21 (20)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 23, 2025.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

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

Read was born and raised on the Gold Coast[4] where he attended St Andrews Lutheran College throughout his upbringing.[5] 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.[6] Read joined the Gold Coast Suns Academy at 13 years of age, but was not considered a standout in his early teenage years.[7]

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.[8] 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.[9] 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.[10]

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.[11] A month later he made his VFL debut for the Gold Coast, accruing 12 disposals and four behinds.[12] 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.[13] 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.[14] Read grew up supporting the Gold Coast Suns[15] and described being drafted to the club with his friends as a "dream come true".[16]

AFL career

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.[17] In May 2024, Read extended his contract with the Suns until 2028.[18]

In round 21 of the 2025 AFL season Read kicked two goals to earn himself a nomination for the 2025 AFL rising star.[19]

Statistics

Statistics are correct to the end of 2024[20]
Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks
H/O
 Hit-outs
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game)
G B K H D M T H/O G B K H D M T H/O
2024Gold Coast20 431991841150.80.32.32.34.51.00.33.8
Career 431991841150.80.32.32.34.51.00.33.8

References

  1. ↑ "Why is Ethan Read's nickname Creek?". SEN. 2024-04-04. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
  2. ↑ ""DOING IT QUITE EASY": SUNS 'UNICORN' DRAFTEE'S STAGGERING ATHLETICISM IMPRESSING TEAMMATES". SEN. 2024-02-13. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  3. ↑ "Read picked No.9 in AFL Draft". Gold Coast Suns. 2023-11-20. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
  4. ↑ "Read "taking it week to week, working on my craft"". Gold Coast Suns. 2025-07-30. Retrieved 2025-07-31.
  5. ↑ "How Suns' Academy graduates are impacting on and off the field". Australian Football League. 2024-04-16. Retrieved 2024-04-17.
  6. ↑ "Behind the Draft - Get to know Ethan Read". Gold Coast Suns. 2023-11-22. Retrieved 2024-01-29.
  7. ↑ "Six Queenslanders selected in the 2023 AFL Draft". AFL Queensland. 2023-11-24. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
  8. ↑ "Ethan Read's rise from talented teen to best ruckman in his draft class". Courier Mail. 2023-11-19. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
  9. ↑ "No.1 contender, brother of Port star headline 2023 Academy intake". Australian Football League. 2022-11-18. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
  10. ↑ "2022 Allies squad announced". AFL Queensland. 2022-05-20. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  11. ↑ "Allies dominate U18 All-Australian team after unbeaten carnival for 2023". Australian Football League. 2023-07-21. Retrieved 2024-01-14.
  12. ↑ "Cal Twomey's Phantom Form Guide: Top draft prospects' August ranking". Australian Football League. 2023-08-16. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  13. ↑ "THE ACADEMY RUCKMAN THAT A RIVAL RECRUITING MANAGER RATES AS A TOP-THREE PROSPECT". SEN. 2024-11-15. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
  14. ↑ "Read picked No.9 in AFL Draft". Gold Coast Suns. 2022-11-20. Retrieved 2024-02-18.
  15. ↑ "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.
  16. ↑ "Suns to unveil three debutants in Giants clash". Gold Coast Suns. 2024-04-03. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
  17. ↑ Smith, Martin (2024-04-07). "Suns stars set for new roles as Dimma lauds sprightly display". Australian Football League. Retrieved 2024-04-07.
  18. ↑ "Read all about it: Ethan extends until 2028". Gold Coast Suns. 2024-05-01. Retrieved 2024-05-18.
  19. ↑ Whiting, Michael. "The Saints great this Suns Rising Star is using as inspiration". afl.com.au. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
  20. ↑ "Ethan Read". AFL Tables. Retrieved 13 September 2024.