The Burleigh Boys: Sixth Sun creates "unique" situation for junior club

There is a small junior community club that has become a footy factory in recent years.

The Burleigh Bombers on the Gold Coast have been churning out AFL players at will and this weekend they’ll achieve a very rare record.

Beau Addinsall’s AFL debut for the Gold Coast Suns on Friday night will make it six Burleigh products who have played for this Suns side in 2026.

Addinsall joins Bodhi and Zeke Uwland, Jai Murray, Leo Lombard and Lachie Gulbin as past Bombers players to don the red and gold at AFL level, joining Zeke Uwland and Murray as 2026 debutants.

Five of that group - Bodhi aside - played together in the Bombers’ Under-16s side in 2022. They somehow lost the Grand Final to Morningside Panthers that season.

Unfortunately due to Gulbin’s omission, that particular quintet won’t get to play together at AFL level this weekend. But there does remain a chance that all five (six including Bodhi) are in the same AFL team in 2026.

Having six Burleigh boys in and around Damien Hardwick’s senior Suns team is a remarkable achievement says Mark Pitura, the Bombers’ coaching director.

“This is an unbelievable and unique situation,” Pitura told SEN.com.au.

“I honestly can’t recall anything like this happening before at AFL club level, with six juniors from the same local club playing at AFL level together.

“For such a small community club like Burleigh, this is an incredible achievement and a testament to the club’s junior development over many years.”

Pictured above: All five Suns players in Burleigh colours in 2022 (thanks to the Suns and Bombers).

(Addinsall: front row, third from left
(Z.Uwland: front row, fourth from left
(Lombard: Front row, third from right
(Murray: Leaning forward above Zeke in the back row
(Gulbin: Back row, 5th player from the right
(Coach Mark Uwland - Bodhi & Zeke’s dad - far right)

A pair of former Suns - Brayden Crossley (10 AFL games) and Jacob Dawson (9 AFL games) - also came through the Burleigh juniors.

North Melbourne's Bailey Scott played juniors there and recent West Coast mid-season draftee Ollie Francou (son of Port Adelaide great Josh) also spent some time with the Bombers.

Tai Hayes, drafted with Pick 44 last year, is currently on the Brisbane Lions list.

One Bomber to look out for in future drafts, according to Pitura, is Taj Murray, the younger brother of Jai.

“Taj is on a similar pathway to Jai,” Pitura said.

“He turns 17 this year and is part of the Under-18s Allies program as a bottom-ager.

“He has plenty of talent but there is still a lot of water to go under the bridge.”

There's certainly something in the water around Burleigh.