REAL FORCE
Suns on 2021 mission to prove all non-believers wrong
GOLD Coast Suns are sick of being left out of the premiership talk by outside entities who can’t see the force they are building at Metricon Stadium.
That ignorance from outside the Coast is fuelling the fire of the 2021 AFLW squad, which after reaching the competition’s finals in its debut season last year, aims to go deeper this season.
Newly re-appointed co-captain Sam Virgo said the desire to show what her side is capable of was powerful.
“No one is talking about us,” Virgo said. “No one is considering us as a quality side. No one is writing articles and no one, particularly in Melbourne, is bothering to care about anything we’re doing.
“That’s fine by us, but it’s a chip on our shoulder, because we are ready to take this competition by storm.”
Virgo, alongside new cocaptain Hannah Dunn and their leadership team of Jamie Stanton and new recruits Jade Pregelj and Sarah Perkins, will ensure the Suns live up to those words.
“As leaders, we take full responsibility to drive standards that will allow us to go deeper into the finals,” Virgo said.
“We’re proud of last year, but in no way is the job complete or good enough.
“AFL is thriving in the Gold Coast/Tweed area and it’s a real privilege to play with the talented kids who’ve joined our list and who were already there. Our responsibility as leaders is to show them that they’re ready and to believe in themselves that they belong at this level, because they are.”
That task will be all the easier with the calibre of leaders the Suns have appointed to a five-player leadership group.
Former ArmyRoos representative Jade Pregelj will bring leadership experience from the Royal Military College, Duntroon, where she studied to be an officer.
She said her appointment to a leadership position would require her to look beyond herself and take responsibility for the preparedness of others, similiar to in the Australian Defence Force.
“Without a (formal) role I was quite focused on my individual performance in my first season, trying to find my feet and prove I deserved to be there.
“Now with a dedicated role in the team it really makes you feel responsible for looking after everyone and making sure they’re enjoying themselves, not just ticking your own boxes.
“I feel very blessed to have the run I’ve had thus far, and as a team we’re growing stronger.
“That makes you feel a lot more confident and now everyone has a voice, everyone contributes.”
The Suns take on West Coast in AFLW Round One.