Suns call up Bond star
BOND University captain Shannon Danckert has been picked by the Gold Coast Suns after she was crowned QAFLW best and fairest.
The talented 24-year-old will step up to the AFLW after leading Bond to the QAFLW grand final and polling votes in eight of her 13 matches.
“I thought the Emma Zielke Medal was the icing on the cake, but to get picked up by the Suns has topped off my year,” Danckert said.
“I got a phone call from (Gold Coast Suns coach Cameron) Joyce wanting to have a chat. They brought me in and offered a spot.
“It means a lot to me. I have put so much hard work into my football the last few years.”
Danckert has risen quickly through the ranks at the Bull Sharks, being named captain last year and guiding the team through the Covid pandemic.
“Bond have put so much time and effort into me to improve my football skills and over the last few years I’ve grown into the footballer I wanted to become,’’ she said.
“My ability to lead on the field, my awareness and my efficiency with the ball have improved.
“I think the responsibility of being captain is that you have these standards you want the team to meet and you have to meet them every single training session and game, regardless of what is happening.
“We had a great year. Unfortunately, we didn’t get over the line in the grand final but the club had a very successful year. Our reserves won the competition.”
The biggest challenge now for the midfielder might be convincing her AFL-mad family from the small town of Fish Creek – two hours south of Melbourne – to follow the Suns.
“Mum’s rules were we were not allowed to follow an interstate club,” she said.
“Which is ironic now that I play for the Suns. I’ll have to turn Mum into a Suns fan.
“Every single Saturday morning, I didn’t know that people did anything else but go to football.
“Ever since I could remember, my two older brothers and sister were in our overalls and gumboots and off to footy.
“When we finished travelling the countryside to play footy, we were at home watching it.
“When I told my brothers I made the AFLW, they were shocked, stoked and really proud.
“They haven’t seen many games face-to-face, but to see their little sister forge her own path has been pretty exciting.”
Danckert has already started pre-season with the Suns.
The AFLW season is expected to start in early January.