Midfielder Charlie Rowbottom has become the first two-time Gold Coast SUNS AFLW Club Champion.
Rowbottom was crowned with the club’s highest honour for a second time in three seasons at Sunday’s AFLW Club Champion event at The Star Gold Coast.
After finishing as runner-up in 2023, Rowbottom added to her win in Season Seven, finishing on 313 votes ahead of joint runners-up Niamh McLaughlin and Daisy D’Arcy (258).
The 21-year-old led the count from start to finish following a sparkling beginning to the season, highlighted by a 42-disposal outing in Round 3 in which she earned a maximum 40 votes.
In her fourth AFLW season, Rowbottom played all 11 matches and led the AFLW for clearances (68, 6.2 avg) and contested possessions (195, 17.7 avg). She has now finished in the top two of all four Club Champion counts since debuting in 2022.
A tie for runner-up between McLaughlin and D’Arcy also secured career-best finishes for both players. The result is McLaughlin’s maiden podium finish in just her second AFLW season while it’s a third for D’Arcy following third-place finishes in 2021 and 2023.
Just nine votes separated the next three players with Meara Girvan (234), Elise Barwick (227) and Georgia Clayden (225) all recording career-best finishes.
D’Arcy won another honour earlier in the event, taking out her third Players’ Player award while Meara Girvan was awarded her first Coach’s Award.
Streetsmarts SUNS Academy graduate Sienna McMullen was voted as Most Professional while captain Tara Bohanna took out Leading Goalkicker for a third time in four seasons, as well as Player of the Series.
Burleigh Bombers junior Havana Harris was named as the Streetsmarts SUNS Academy Female Player of the Year.
The Club Champion Award was voted on by the AFLW coaching panel, with the Head Coach and three Assistant Coaches assigning players a score from one to 10 based on their efforts during each particular game. The maximum votes a player can receive from any one match is 40 votes.
2024 Club Champion Award Winners:
Club Champion: Charlie Rowbottom
Club Champion Runner-Up: Daisy D’Arcy & Niamh McLaughlin
Players’ Player – Presented by Mackay Regional Council: Daisy D’Arcy
Most Professional – Presented by Kool Beanz SUNS: Sienna McMullen
Coach’s Award – Presented by GANDEN Engineering: Meara Girvan
Leading Goalkicker – Presented by SIXT: Tara Bohanna
Player of the Series – presented by People First Bank: Tara Bohanna
Female Academy Player of the Year – presented by Streetsmarts: Havana Harris
2024 AFLW Club Champion Top 10:
- Charlie Rowbottom (313)
=2. Daisy D’Arcy (258)
=2. Niamh McLaughlin (258)
4. Meara Girvan (234)
5. Elise Barwick (227)
6. Georgia Clayden (225)
7. Jac Dupuy (223)
8. Lauren Bella (221)
9. Clara Fitzpatrick (216)
10. Charlotte Wilson (213)
2023 AFLW Club Champion Top 10:
- Claudia Whitfort (322)
2. Charlie Rowbottom (270)
3. Daisy D’Arcy (255)
4. Jac Dupuy (252)
=5. Lucy Single (251)
=5. Alison Drennan (251)
7. Bess Keaney (238)
8. Maddy Brancatisano (234)
9. Niamh McLaughlin (225)
10. Lauren Ahrens (221)
Niamh McLaughlin & Daisy D’Arcy finish joint Club Champion runners-up
Niamh McLaughlin and Daisy D’Arcy have finished as joint runners-up at Sunday’s AFLW Club Champion event.
The results are career-best finishes for both players following impressive seasons in which the pair featured in all but one of the club’s 11 matches.
McLaughlin’s esteemed tri-sport career reached new heights in just her second AFLW season. The 31-year-old recorded several career-high figures with her season highlight coming in Week 9 where she recorded 24 disposals and 15 contested possessions.
Twenty-one-year-old D’Arcy had a career-best season which was cruelly cut short with injury. Provided with opportunity in both midfield and at half-back, D’Arcy averaged a career-high 15.8 disposals and 7.3 contested possessions, also leading the SUNS for rebound 50s (3.9 avg.) and metres gained (323.1 avg).
It’s her third podium finish in just five AFLW seasons, adding to third-place honours won in 2021 and 2023.
Daisy D’Arcy becomes three-time Players’ Player
Daisy D’Arcy has earned a third Players’ Player Award of her young career Gold Coast SUNS AFLW Club Champion on Sunday.
The Players’ Player award, presented by Mackay Regional Council, is voted upon by the players, recognising the footballer who best lives and demonstrates the team values in all facets.
The 21-year-old led by example on and off the field in a season which was cruelly cut short with injury, leading the SUNS for rebound 50s and metres gained whilst also recording a career-high 15.8 disposals and 7.3 contested possessions per game.
D’Arcy becomes the first player to win the award on three occasions, adding to 2021 and 2022 honours.
She is also currently in contention for selection in the AFLPA 22Under22 Team.
Sienna McMullen voted Most Professional
Sienna McMullen has made an immediate impact at the Gold Coast SUNS, taking out the club’s Most Professional award, presented by Kool Beanz SUNS.
The Most Professional award is voted on by the club’s AFLW staff on a 3, 2, 1 basis and encompasses all aspects of the program including football, education, operations, high performance, medical and media.
The 19-year-old is yet to make her AFLW debut after being placed on the inactive list for the 2023 season as she recovered from an ACL injury, but has impressed with her contributions off the field and diligence in her rehabilitation across her first 12 months at the club.
The Burleigh Bombers junior was able to return to the field for the first time in over a year in match scrimmages late in the season and will be eyeing an AFLW debut in 2025.
Meara Girvan wins Coach’s Award
Versatile defender Meara Girvan has won her first GC SUNS Coach’s Award, presented by GANDEN Engineering.
The Coach’s Award is decided on by AFLW Head Coach Cameron Joyce and is awarded to the player who is most impressive in all aspects of the program – including on and off field, approach to improvement, performance and fitness.
After missing the opening two games of the season through injury, Girvan had a career-best season in 2024, playing a key intercepting role across half-back for the SUNS which included 6.3 intercept possessions and a team-high 3.2 one percenters per game.
The 27-year-old added another string to her bow in just her second AFLW season, often seen leading up out of the forward line as well.
She averaged career-best figures in disposals (11.8) and metres gained (210.5). He best performance came against Essendon in Week 6 with a career-high 18 disposals, five marks and 378 metres gained.
Tara Bohanna becomes three-time SUNS Leading Goalkicker
Captain Tara Bohanna has won her third SUNS AFLW Leading Goalkicker Award, presented by SIXT.
Bohanna played every game of the season, kicking at least one goal in six of 11 matches to finish the campaign with nine goals.
She kicked multiple goals on three occasions, including in the Week 8 win against the Sydney Swans.
It’s the third time in four AFLW seasons that the 29-year-old has won the award following on from 2022 and Season Seven.
Tara Bohanna named Player of the Series
SUNS AFLW captain Tara Bohanna has been named Player of the Series, presented by People First Bank at the SUNS AFLW Club Champion.
The Duran Series included several matches played ahead of the club’s pre-season program.
Bohanna was consistent across the series which included matches against AFLW opposition. She receives the award from vice-captain Jac Dupuy, and is the fourth recipient of the honour.
Previous winners include Jordan Membrey (2019) and Kate Surman (2018) who both received the award ahead the club’s introduction into the AFLW.
Bohanna this season became the first player to captain the SUNS for a third AFLW season, finishing the campaign with nine goals.
Havana Harris named Streetsmarts Female Academy Player of the Year
Havana Harris has won the Streetsmarts Female Academy Player of the Year following a standout 2024.
Harris rubber-stamped her position among the top prospects ahead of this year’s AFLW Draft with superb campaigns for both the SUNS and AFL academies, as well as Queensland where she received U18 All-Australian honours for a second year running.
The young tall was among the best in two of Queensland’s three matches at the National Championships, averaging 23.7 disposals, 14.3 contested possessions and 5.3 clearances.
Similarly, she was named as the SUNS’ best in three of the side’s Coates Talent League matches. The Burleigh Bombers junior was also a key member in Bond University’s run to the 2024 QAFLW Grand Final.
The 18-year-old joins current SUNS AFLW player and Streetsmarts SUNS Academy graduate Kiara Bischa as winners of the award.
