WOMEN’S WINTER DELIGHT
Lyons says players on board with Dew blueprint
THE AFL’s women’s Winter Series was designed to give the likes of the Gold Coast Suns an insight into what to expect when they enter the AFLW in 2020. Now they know – “awesome”.
Gold Coast may have been given a lesson by the Brisbane Lions 13.6 (84) to 1.5 (11) in the third and final game of the Winter Series at Metricon Stadium on Saturday, but it did little to quell the appetite of a team of players eyeing AFLW spots.
Brisbane have been in the past two AFLW grand finals and fielded 19 players with experience in the top league against the Gold Coast‘s four.
Suns midfielder Paige Parker said the experience would only help the club reach an elite level in the lead up to 2020.
“It was awesome,” Parker said.
“We knew it was going to be a challenge coming into the game. We’re developing and I think we went pretty well, especially in the first half.
“Hopefully we can keep developing over the next couple of years because the end goal is 2020 and to be up to their standard then.”
Gold Coast scored nine of their 11 points in a promising opening term but didn’t hit the scoreboard again until the fourth quarter.
Parker, 23, said she had gained valuable experience over the course of the series.
“We have learnt a lot in regard to the elite atmosphere and getting in and doing our training,” Parker said. “It’s been a really good learning experience for us.”
Parker is two years into her football journey after making the switch from touch in 2016.
The Brisbane resident plays for Coorparoo in the QWAFL and has been making the trip down to the Gold Coast throughout the series.
SUNS midfielder Jarryd Lyons says the playing group trusts the football program put in place by Stuart Dew and believes the final six games of their season is critical to the young side’s development.
Gold Coast are languishing in second last on the AFL ladder with just three wins to their name in their eighth season.
Finals have been out of reach for sometime but with six games to go, Lyons said there was still a lot to play for.
Lyons said the young team needs to use every game to learn, to ensure Gold Coast take a step forward in 2019.
“We have still got a few games to go and I’d love for the group to gel together over the next five to six weeks,” Lyons said.
“We haven’t played a lot of footy together. We need to build the trust as a team and build that into next year.
“We have a good program in place and we trust where we are going.
“It’s just going to take time and we want to hurry that time up as quick as we can.
“The next six weeks will really effect on what next year will bring as well.
“We need that confidence going into an off season and a preseason.
“Winning the last few games and making the most out of the end of the year can really help us build into next year.
“We will look to continue to improve each week. As a young side that’s what you have to do.
“We have got to make sure each week everyone is improving because you can’t afford to waste any games, especially when you are a young player like a few of our guys are.
“It’s the perfect time for them to step up.”
Gold Coast travel to Sydney to play the Swans this week before facing Carlton, Melbourne, Richmond, Brisbane and Geelong on the run home.