Queensland Australian rules football and the Gold Coast SUNS Academy has delivered another player to the AFL, with Southport small forward Campbell Lake picked up by St Kilda in last night’s Telstra AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft. Max Mapley, who has been playing for Tasmania in the VFL and former Jindalee Jags junior was taken by Melbourne.
Lake, a dynamic 21-year-old, taken at Pick No.7, was rewarded after a four-year and 59-game audition in the VFL with the SUNS in 2023 and Southport since 2024.
He won a VFL premiership with the SUNS as a teenager in his eighth game in 2023, and has been a member of the Southport 2024 and 2025 Smithy's Grand Final sides.
But the clincher for St Kilda was his form in eight games this year, in which he’s averaged 16.9 possessions, 1.5 goals and 6.4 tackles.
He kicked a career-best four goals against Brisbane in Round 2, had a career-best 26 possessions against Footscray in Round 6 and made a career-best 10 tackles against Coburg in Round 7. He was described as “a powerful small forward who can also play through the midfield” by St Kilda Talent Identification and Player Movement Manager Simon Dalrymple.
“His ability to chase and tackle is impressive, while he’s also shown signs of being able to hit the scoreboard, so we’re excited to add him to our mix,” said Dalrymple.
Jarrod Field, Southport GM Football Operations, told how Southport staff had been watching the draft on the big screen inside when Lake was picked up by St Kilda.
Lake was training outside with the Sharks under coach Matthew Primus, and was mobbed by teammates after Primus conveyed the news.
“We knew St Kilda were interested in him, and have been supplying his GPS details every week, but we didn’t know for sure,” Field said.
“Ëveryone is rapt for him. He’s a good kid .. a coast boy all his life. He’s a Southport junior and has also played at Ormeau and Labrador. He not long ago started a chippie apprenticeship so I dare say that will be put on hold.”
Lake might now be an advocate of the adage ‘blondes have more fun." He had worn a black helmet playing football until this year, before casting it aside and putting a blonde rinse through his hair.
Lake will head to Melbourne today and is expected to play with the St Kilda VFL side this weekend.
Lake is the second Southport player to step up into the AFL in the past 12 months after Tai Hayes, a Burleigh junior, was Brisbane’s first pick in last year’s National Draft at #44 overall. He’s played five VFL games with the Lions this year.
Mapley, a 200cm ruck, was selected by the Dees with Pick No.19. Mapley comes to Melbourne after representing Tasmania in the VFL this year.
He is a developing ruck who has shown exciting promise in VFL games this year, averaging 18 hit-outs, 12 disposals and three clearances.
Before moving to Tasmania in his late teens, Mapley played his junior and youth Australian rules football with the Jindalee Jags.