Suns’ zoning coup ahead of 2020 AFLW season
THE Gold Coast Suns will have a head start on access to some of the best female talent in the state after the AFLW announced Queensland footballers can nominate for two zones in the state.
Eligible footballers will be able to nominate for either the Gold Coast zone, meaning the Suns will have first and only dibs, or for the whole of Queensland.
The latter option means they can be picked up by either the Suns or the Brisbane Lions in the AFLW draft.
The Suns have access to players on the Gold Coast, in Queensland’s north as well as in northern NSW.
Though she is unsure what zone to nominate for as yet, Gold Coast Suns academy prospect Serene Watson said it was exciting female footballers now had the chance to progress their career on the Coast.
“It’s amazing that the Suns have finally gotten a team in the national competition and Gold Coast players have that pathway available to them,” the 17-year-old said.
“It’s unreal seeing how much talent is coming through the ranks and the opportunities … now available for female footballers in this country.
“Anyone who’s around my age has been building towards this but we have to wait and see now.”
After seeing Bond University teammates Charlotte Hammans, Molly Ritson, Kalinda Howarth and Taylor Smith sign with the Suns throughout 2019, Watson said she could only dream of joining them in the AFLW next year.
“Everyone is pretty nervous but excited on the other hand,” she said. “Hopefully I do get picked up but I’m just waiting for the day now.”
Watson has spent the past few weeks training ahead of the 2019 AFLW draft combine in the hope of impressing recruiters.
“We have a program that we’ve been given and I’ve actually been training with a few of the combine boys who are pretty fit and fast,” she said. “I’ve just been trying to gradually get fitter in the lead-up.”
The 2019 AFLW draft will be held on October 22 in Melbourne though the defender predicts a subdued affair at the Watson household on the day which could change her life.
“I’ll probably just be sitting on the couch at home, to be honest,” she joked.