The Gold Coast SUNS are thrilled to announce its inaugural squad for the 2018 Women’s AFL Winter Series. 

Every player named in the squad has been selected from Queensland clubs, including 11 SUNS Talent Academy Players, 12 players from Gold Coast clubs and seven from throughout North Queensland.

GC SUNS General Manager – List & Strategy, Craig Cameron said it was a milestone moment as the club prepares to enter the AFLW in 2020. 

“We are really excited to announce our squad for the inaugural women’s Winter Series which will see us play three games across a ten-week period against GWS GIANTS and Brisbane Lions," he said.

"This is a big step in our journey towards entering the AFLW competition in 2020."

History will be made when the team plays in Sydney on June 9 at Tom Willis Oval, as they become the first female athletes to represent the SUNS in senior women’s football.

“It will be a truly momentous occasion for this group as they become the first female athletes to represent the SUNS in senior women’s football, when they run out for their first game on Saturday June 9, something they should be really proud of,” Cameron added.

Cameron noted that when bringing the list together, the club wanted to find the best talent from throughout the SUNS Academy zone, providing players with an elite environment to give them the best possible chance to succeed.

“The Winter Series is a chance to create and build an elite environment for our athletes as we work towards our inaugural AFLW season.” 

“Our talent identification and testing process has been conducted across the Gold Coast and North Queensland and has shown us that women’s football in Queensland is very strong.”

As the AFLW competition continues to build and the teams continue to get better, this program will form an important step as the club gets set to join the elite competition in 2020.

“This is another important milestone in our journey towards playing in the AFLW competition in 2020,” Cameron said.

The 2018 Winter Series begins in June and will see the SUNS take on the Brisbane Lions and two GWS Giants teams.

2018 AFL Women's Winter Series

Game 1
Saturday June 9
GWS Giants North v Gold Coast SUNS
Tom Wills Oval, Olympic Park, 11.00am

Game 2
Sunday June 24
Gold Coast SUNS v GWS Giants South
Fankhauser Reserve, Southport Sharks, 11.00am

Game 3
Saturday July 14
Gold Coast SUNS v Brisbane Lions
Metricon Stadium, 4.40pm
Curtain raiser event

 *Has played AFLW