SUNS BEAMING WITH PRIDE
BE A PART OF HISTORY
THE weight of expectation has officially lifted and now the Suns will play one of their most important fixtures of the AFLW season against Richmond this afternoon, according to coach David Lake.
The Suns took only four quarters to silence their critics in sloppy conditions in Sydney last weekend, falling by a mere point against the GWS Giants in their barnstorming AFLW league debut.
Lake said the club had made no attempts to hose down the excitement and anticipation ahead of their home town debut at Metricon Stadium.
“This is our first experience and the most important experience going forward,” Lake said.
“You get one shot at this one, your first time playing at Metricon against such a big opponent in the Tigers.
“The whole thing is built around that (excitement).”
While rain dampened their inaugural AFLW parade, Lake lauded the effort and intent of his players to hold a fourthyear side like the Giants to only nine points.
“My only disappointment out of last week is the score,” he said.
“I have no other disappointment in the way we travelled, behaved, played, the way we get along as people.
“Maybe the girls were praying for blue skies (this weekend) but I’m comfortable that we can go into whatever.
“The thing I learned about the girls last week is that effort and intent come in whatever weather and they adjust very quickly to not be fazed by it.”
After spending years nestled within the southeast Queensland Aussie rules community, Lake has put the call out to the sporting public to attend today’s game and celebrate the culmination of years of work, being the Gold Coast’s first national female sporting side.
YOU GET ONE SHOT AT THIS ONE, YOUR FIRST TIME PLAYING AT METRICON AGAINST SUCH A BIG OPPONENT IN THE TIGERS COACH DAVID LAKE
“I look forward to getting to the footy (today) and having all these people turn up, people that I know and that have been involved in the things I’ve been and that have contributed to what these girls are going to bring,” he said.
“There are all these people and I just get to do the good bit at the end but you really hope they get in (today) to support their work.
“Just get here and support your girls.”
Lake flagged that Gold Coast debutant Ellie Hampson would likely play in the forward line while co-captain Leah Kaslar could again find herself in the centre square after a successful experiment in the fourth quarter against GWS last weekend.