KEY TARGET DELIVERS

IF HER first game is any indication, the Suns version of Sarah Perkins might be the best the AFLW has seen.

Former Crows and Demons forward Perkins (pictured) starred in her Suns debut, finishing with 11 disposals, four marks and two goals in the club’s 21-point loss to Melbourne at Metricon Stadium on Saturday.

Perkins provided a crucial key target in the Suns’ forward 50; her massive pack mark at the end of the first term, which she subsequently converted for a goal and seven-point Suns lead, proof of a potentially promising campaign to come.

First signed as an undrafted free agent to the Crows at the end of 2016 and then as a train-on player by the Demons last year, the Suns were the first club to invest draft capital in the 173cm key forward, using pick 27 in the 2020 AFLW draft to bring Perkins (pictured) to the Gold Coast.

Teammate Jamie Stanton said the club’s willingness to draft Perkins was important beyond just adding another key target to the Suns’ list.

“It helps when a club really values what she does. This is the first time a club has drafted her and committed to her from the start,” Stanton said.

“I think when the team has confidence in her, the club has confidence in her and she has confidence in herself, you can really see what she can do.”

Perkins’ first goal as a Sun was punctuated with a fist pump and yell, before being swarmed by her teammates – their reaction testament to the impact she has had

a fantastic inclusion to our team,” Stanton said. “Sarah came up here and wanted to provide some knowledge to our team, which is more athlete-driven than footyminded at the moment, and she’s done that in spades.

“She’s bought into the program 100 per cent … it’s all her hard work and it’s really nice to see her seeing the benefits of that on the field.”