The Gold Coast SUNS have made their final AFLW priority signing, with Taylor Smith joining the club.
Smith, a SUNS Academy product, has spent an extra year in the program after choosing to focus on her AFL career.
The 19-year-old started playing less than two years ago after giving up a promising athletics career in heptathlon and hurdles to concentrate on football.
The 180cm key forward has shown huge development from her time in the SUNS Academy and was named as an overage player for Queensland in the 2019 NAB AFLW Under 18 Championships.
She represented the SUNS in both the 2018 and 2019 Winter Series’ and has impressed with her strong overhead marking, composure in front of goals and ability to read the ball.
Gold Coast’s Head of Women’s Football, Fiona McLarty, said it was fantastic to secure another long-term Academy prospect.
“We’ve been really impressed by how far Taylor’s come in the two short years she’s been playing AFL football,” McLarty said.
“It’s a testament to the hard work she’s put in, to not only learning the game, but also the skills required to succeed.
“She’s transformed herself into an exciting key forward and we can’t wait to see what she brings for us in 2020.”
Smith’s commitment takes the SUNS list to a total of 22 and is the final priority signing the club will make before the AFLW Draft.
GC SUNS AFLW list as of August 30:
Charlotte Hammans
Ellie Hampson
Kitara Whap-Farrar
Jamie Stanton
Tori Groves-Little
Paige Parker
Tiarna Ernst
Jacqui Yorston
Sam Virgo
Lauren Bella
Emma Pittman
Leah Kaslar
Jasmyn Hewett
Jordann Hickey
Sally Riley
Maddy Roberts
Lauren Ahrens
Molly Ritson
Kate Surman
Tayla Thorn
Kalinda Howarth
Taylor Smith
