New SUNS recruit Charlotte Wilson says she’s looking forward to a ‘fresh start’ in red and gold on the Gold Coast.

The 23-year-old key defender bolstered the SUNS defence after joining the club from the Demons during last year’s AFLW Trade Period.

Having held several leadership positions throughout her young football career, Wilson adds further experience to a developing SUNS backline.

“I was really keen to start fresh, dive straight into my footy and have that be my main focus,” Wilson told SUNS Media.

“Melbourne’s a very professional club so I’m excited to take those habits I learnt there and bring them in here.”

Despite boasting 30 games of AFLW experience across six seasons at both Carlton and Melbourne, footy wasn’t the first calling for Wilson who remained a dual-sport athlete up until her first AFLW campaign.

“I played basketball from when I was five years old and I was still playing in my first season of AFLW too,” she added.

“Footy’s better though. There’s more mates, a bigger field… even though you can’t figure out where the oval ball is going all the time.”

It’s a new environment, but not all fresh faces on the Gold Coast with Wilson having lined up alongside defending Players’ Player Maddy Brancatisano in the Vic Metro U18 side.

While the 2024 AFLW fixture remains a while away from being released, an intriguing fixture lies ahead should the SUNS meet West Coast with new Eagles coach, Daisy Pearce, namedropped as the best player Wilson has played alongside.

The defender’s hoping to bring some of what she learnt from from the three-time All-Australian.

“Daisy’s a very selfless player and her footy IQ is so high. She was always happy to sacrifice her own game if it meant someone else would do better and if that was best for the team.”