Fiona’s dream now a reality
IN October 2018 Fiona McLarty was named as the Suns’ head of women’s football, the club’s first AFLW staffing appointment.
With more than 18 years of experience in the AFL industry, McLarty was the first fulltime female development officer in Australia and has played a crucial role in growing the game as a player, coach, and administrator both nationally and in Queensland.
So on Saturday you could forgive the Burleigh Waters resident for riding a wave of emotion as nearly two years of intensive work came to fruition with the Suns’ AFLW debut against GWS.
“It was actually at the airport that I got a bit emotional seeing all the girls arriving and dressed in their uniform for the first time getting ready to travel away,” McLarty said.
“At the hotel on Friday night we did a guernsey presentation for our 10 debutants and had some family members there and hearing the family members talk … it was a really proud moment.
“I can’t wait to see what the rest of the season holds now,” she said.
McLarty watched on from the bench, helping co-ordinate messages from the coach’s box and ensuring everything ran smoothly, as the Suns fell 9-8 to the Giants in Sydney.
This weekend the Suns will play host to Richmond at Metricon Stadium in what will be the first AFLW fixture at the ground since the 2017 AFLW grand final between the Lions and Adelaide.
“Hopefully in that crowd there are a few young girls that are aspiring to be Gold Coast Suns players in the future as well,” McLarty said.
“A heap of people I keep seeing during the week have told me they are coming to the game and can’t wait to get out and support the girls.
“You’ll want to be able to say you were here for the first Suns AFLW women’s game at Metricon Stadium and the first time they had a chance to represent their community on the Gold Coast.”