The Gold Coast SUNS are pleased to welcome Paige Parker to the club as an AFLW expansion signing on a two-year contract.

Parker was selected by Brisbane as a first round selection in the 2018 NAB AFLW Draft and played four AFLW games throughout the 2019 season.

The 23-year-old is a cross-code athlete who will represent Australia in the Touch Football World Cup later this month in Kuala Lumpur, having also played for the Brisbane Bronco’s. 

Parker was a member of the Gold Coast SUNS Winter Series team in 2018, eventually going on to win the Best Emerging Player award at the SUNS’ Club Champion. 

With the ability to play off half-back or on a wing, Parker will use her pace and agility to evade defenders and break lines for the SUNS inaugural AFLW team. 

“I’m super pumped,” Parker said after signing the contract

“I really enjoyed Winter Series, it was a great environment to be a part of and obviously I’m back so I loved it that much and I’m excited to be a part of this year and the year after that.

“I’ve got some friends here from Winter Series and I love the culture around the SUNS so I’m very happy to be here.” 

Gold Coast’s Head of Women’s Football Fiona McLarty said it was exciting to be able to lock in Parker for the next two years.

“It’s fantastic news for the club to be able to secure Paige as a player for 2020 and beyond,” McLarty said. 

“We’re really excited by what she has to offer and were extremely impressed with her form for us in the 2018 Winter Series. 

She was an important target for us in the AFLW Sign & Trade Period and it’s great she has chosen to secure her future with the SUNS.” 

Parker’s signature follows the commitments of Tori Groves-Little and Jamie Stanton who were also announced as expansion signings for the SUNS during the AFLW Sign & Trade Period. 

The trio take Gold Coast’s AFLW list to six after the inaugural signings of Ellie Hampson, Kitara Whap-Farrar and Charlotte Hammans in February.