SUNS ON THE RISE
WOMEN SET FOR LAUNCH
A LANDMARK week for the Gold Coast Suns has been capped by the securing of a major backer for their blossoming women’s team.
In a key step towards their admission into the 2020 AFLW season, the Suns will play their inaugural match this Saturday in the Winter Series opener at Tom Wills Oval in Sydney against GWS North.
Just days out from that debut, the Suns have announced a two-year naming rights partnership with Gold Coast business Kool Kids Training College.
Sponsorship has often been tough for the city’s top teams but both parties spoke of synergies that would make their arrangement work.
“When I think about it, they have been inspiring women on the Gold Coast longer than we have,” Suns chief executive Mark Evans said.
“Firstly if you think about early-childhood development and the ability, particularly for mothers, to get back to work after having had some time off raising kids. It’s a terrific partnership for me, one that inspires women on the Gold Coast at all levels.”
Evans said there was a buzz about the club as the race to 2020 gathered pace.
“We have to use these 18 months really, really well, quite smartly and we have to push these girls to see where they can take themselves,” he said.
He hinted the Suns would look to complement their roster with a raid of Brisbane’s stocks.
“The girls that have been developed in our academy zones have been playing for the Lions so maybe they come back,” Evans said.
“We have another 18 months before we field a team so let’s just hope they keep developing and hopefully they want to come home.”
Kool Kids Training College boss Bruce Coulson said it was an exciting time to get involved with women’s footy.
“You only have to look at the fields around us today and see when you drive past how many women are training on fields or kicking a football or picking a football up,” he said. “If you get in at the beginning there’s a chance down the line.”
The Suns already held a link to their new partner given Kat Solomon and Jo Rischitelli – the wives of assistant coach Dean Solomon and player Michael Rischitelli – completed courses there.