Young guns recommit
GOLD Coast has locked down three members of its talented young core to be the foundation stone of an AFLW rebuild under new coach Cameron Joyce.
Last year’s rookie trio of Daisy D’Arcy, 18, Lucy Single, 18, and Maddi Levi, 19, have all signed contract extensions to the end of 2022.
They will provide the heartbeat of the Suns AFLW side as they race the club’s
men to the finals for the first time.
Midfielder Lucy Single said she and her teammates were ready to repay the faith shown by women’s football boss Fiona Sessarago in keeping their rookie class together despite their winless season.
“It feels like a big compliment that they’re able to put their trust in us by signing us for another two years,” Single said.
“It definitely shows how much faith they have in us
and it’s exciting that they see that (potential) in us.
“The three of us definitely have a connection, and we’ve been able to grow that with the rest of the team as well, but it definitely makes it sweeter to do it with two of your closest mates.”
Single and Levi have been friends since primary school and teammates through high school at Miami State High.
The duo expanded to three when D’Arcy, a Townsville product, moved in with the
Levi family after being drafted by the Suns with the 60th overall pick in 2020.
Their connection began to shine despite the dour season unfolding around them, proving to team executives the young rookies were talents capable of building a club around.
D’Arcy became the youngest debutant in AFLW history and ended the season third in the Suns best and fairest medal voting.
“It’s really awesome to
share this with these two girls,” D’Arcy said.
Levi said the club’s willingness to support her rugby sevens dream was a major reason she elected to extend.
“I’m so grateful for this club and what they’ve done for me,” she said.
“After that first year I fell in love with the club and the culture and everything so I definitely wasn’t looking for another club. You can’t get a better location than here to play footy.”