Flood won’t douse Ellie’s place in Suns
A lot of people close to me, like my boyfriend, have been flooded and a lot of my friends ELLIE HAMPSON
STANDING on the manicured field of Metricon Stadium as one of the first AFLW players signed by Gold Coast, Ellie Hampson’s mind was still on those battling the flood crisis back home in Townsville.
Hampson is one of three Suns academy players listed by the club before its AFLW inclusion in 2020, along with Gold Coaster Charlotte Hammans and Cairns flyer Kitara Whap-farrar.
Like many parts of Townsville, Hampson’s home football club Hermit Park is completely under water.
The only signs of the club existing are the goalposts, light towers and the second storey of the clubhouse.
Hampson’s home in Annandale has been spared but many others close to her haven’t been so lucky.
She spent the early parts of the week helping flood victims and after a whirlwind day trip down to the Gold Coast to mark the biggest moment of her career, plans to help in the recovery.
“A lot of people close to me, like my boyfriend, have been flooded and a lot of my friends,” Hampson said on the day she turned 18.
“There were a couple of lucky ones but many weren’t as lucky. It was an emotional time but now it’s about the recovery and about trying to clean up as much as we can.”
The William Ross State High School captain has organised a group of students to aid in the recovery.
“It’s good to see all the characters coming out and watching everyone lend a hand,” she said.
Hampson hopes the news of her Suns contract and place in history will provide something for the Hermit Park Tigers to celebrate.
The midfielder, who also plays halfback, was offered the deal by Suns women’s football manager Fiona Mclarty on Thursday night.
“It’s so overwhelming. It’s such an amazing feeling and I don’t think it’s sunk in yet,” the former Queensland soc- cer representative said. “My family are proud and all the hard work they have seen me put in is paying off. This is where the road starts and when I’ll be pushing really hard now.”
The togetherness of those back in Townsville is what Hampson and her teammates want the Suns women’s team’s values to be built on.
“We want to be a family,” Hampson said. “Even us three have done some travelling together but we were never real close, but it’s like we have become best friends through this experience.”
The entire Suns AFL playing list and staff gathered on the lawn outside Gold Coast’s Carrara headquarters on Thursday to welcome the trio to the club.
“Every single player came and shook our hands. It’s amazing to have that support and it makes you feel important,” Hampson said.
Hammans was greeted by Mclarty at her home on Monday after training and offered one of the prized spots on the list.
“It’s really exciting and there was also some disbelief that I had actually been picked,” the foundation Suns member said.
Whap-farrar has been living on the Gold Coast for the past three weeks and was told yesterday of her inclusion.
“It’s so surreal at the moment,” she said.