In their debut AFLW season, the Gold Coast want to cement their place in the competition. ELIZA REILLY picks out the five Suns set to sizzle for the expansion club

BRITTANY PERRY

Brittany Perry is out to make up for lost time at the Suns. A GWS Giant last year, Perry was delisted after four games and has impressed coaching staff this pre-season with her knowledge of the game and knack for finding the goals. The 25-yearold kicked a team-high two goals in the Suns’ practice match against St Kilda two weeks ago and has also demonstrated safe hands overhead as a linking option between half and full forward. Don’t be surprised to see her leading the Suns’ goalkicking tally at season end.

KALINDA HOWARTH

Kalinda Howarth was in the board room at AFL House as the Suns made their bid for an AFLW licence so it’s fitting that she will get the chance to represent the very club she helped enter the league. The 20-year-old was drafted to the Brisbane Lions in the 2018 AFLW draft, failing to crack into a competitive starting line-up, before taking some time away from the game to rediscover her passion. After leading the QAFLW with 31 goals last season playing for Bond University, Howarth joined the Suns as a priority signing in August. Expect to see her featuring prominently in the forward 50 as well as pushing up on to the wing.

LEAH KASLAR

Leah Kaslar has spent years rattling opposition forwards but now she will get the chance to be one. In a bid to prolong the 34-year-old’s career, coach David Lake has shuffled the magnets and sent Kaslar forward. It’s been a welcome change for the 2020 captain who kicked one goal in the Suns’ practice match against St Kilda two weeks ago. After an injury-affected 2019 AFLW season, expect the exact same fierce attack on the ball, tenacity and bravery; the only difference is she’ll be inside the forward 50.

HANNAH DUNN

For three years, Hannah Dunn has craved the “full” AFLW experience. The 28-yearold was part of history when she played in the inaugural round of AFLW in 2017 after she was elevated from Greater Western Sydney’s train-on squad to make her debut against Adelaide. Dunn was delisted later that year and overlooked in three successive drafts before the Suns pounced with pick 22 at the 2019 AFLW draft. The four-time Queanbeyan Tigers premiership player has an elite tank and the strength to match. Expect to see her combining with former Kangaroo Jamie Stanton at the coalface for the Suns come Round 1.

JADE PREGELJ

Dubbed the “Queen” of Queensland football, Pregelj (inset) seems to have picked up where she left off. The 28-year-old was once one of Queensland’s most prodigious talents, winning the 2010 and 2011 Women’s League Best and Fairest awards for Queensland ahead of the likes of Katie Brennan, Kate Lutkins and Aasta O’Connor, before stepping away from the game to focus on her career. Lured back to Australian rules footy by the Suns via last year’s Winter Series against Brisbane, don’t be surprised to see the defender match it at the elite level with those stars she once outplayed.