Ethan Read

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]

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]

Updated to the end of round 1, 2026.^[20]