On Monday the Gold Coast SUNS Female Academy had 17 representatives lining up in the NAB AFLW Under 18 Championships at Metricon Stadium.
The Queensland team took on Victoria Country, toiling hard but ultimately going down 3.1 (19) to 9.7 (61).
SUNS Media spoke to Female Academy player Emmii-Lee Zanker-Close post-match who said it was a difficult match in the conditions.
“It was very wet and very scrappy – a hard game of footy to play,” Zanker-Close said.
“I feel like we held ourselves really well and kept fighting until the end.”
Over 70% of the Queensland team consisted of SUNS Academy players and Zanker-Close said it made the match even more enjoyable playing with familiar faces.
“It’s really awesome being able to have played with people for so long and just know how they play,” she said.
“It makes it so much easier to run out on the field knowing their game-style and how they kick, everything like that.
“Without the SUNS Academy I wouldn’t be here - I got scouted by Tim Searl just playing school footy so if it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t even be playing footy.”
Queensland have two more matches in Round 2 of the Championships, coming up against Vic Metro at Southport on Wednesday before taking on the Eastern Allies at Bond University on Friday.
Queensland v Victoria Metro
Wednesday July 10, 10:00am
Fankhauser Reserve, Southport
Queensland v Eastern Allies
Friday July 12, 2:00pm
Bond University
