Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 16, 2026

Ethan Read

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.

Last revised
Jul 16, 2026
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Ethan Read
Read in March 2026
Personal information
Full name Ethan Read
Nicknames Creek,1 The Unicorn2
Born (2005-07-07) 7 July 2005
Gold Coast, Queensland
Original team 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)
Positions Ruck, Forward
Club information
Current club Gold Coast
Number 20
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2024– Gold Coast 36 (32)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 18, 2026.
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 Coast4 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 Suns15 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

Updated to the end of round 18, 2026.20

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) Votes
G B K H D M T H/O G B K H D M T H/O
2024 Gold Coast 20 4 3 1 9 9 18 4 1 15 0.8 0.3 2.3 2.3 4.5 1.0 0.3 3.8 0
2025 Gold Coast 20 21 19 20 110 49 159 56 30 87 0.9 1.0 5.2 2.3 7.6 2.7 1.4 4.1 0
2026 Gold Coast 20 11 10 6 57 46 103 33 13 22 0.9 0.5 5.2 4.2 9.4 3.0 1.2 2.0
Career 36 32 27 176 104 280 93 44 124 0.9 0.8 4.9 2.9 7.8 2.6 1.2 3.4 0
References

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 July 2026.
External links