For the third straight year, the Gold Coast SUNS players have rubbed shoulders with a sold out crowd of women at the annual Ladies Lunch, presented by Pindara Private Hospital.

The QT Ballroom at QT Gold Coast was jam-packed with over 450 people attending the event, hosted by SUNS TV’s Jess Skarratt and GC SUNS defender Tom Murphy.

The event is the biggest social gathering of the year organised by the Women Of The Suns (WOTS) and featured an afternoon of fine food, music, laughs and plenty of chat.

SUNS CEO Travis Auld said the event had come a long way since its inception in 2012, when 250 people attended the inaugural event at Metricon Stadium, and that women are playing an increasingly vital role in the sport.

“The role that women play in our game is growing at a rapid rate.

“We really want to embrace that.  We want to provide a match day experience where women and children feel really safe and comfortable and have a lot of fun.

“We want to provide activities outside of the game day, from a social perspective, where women get to spend time with like-minded people, get to meet the players and coaches in a different environment, and love those different aspects of being a supporter of the Gold Coast SUNS.”

Auld also said the event was a great opportunity for the playing staff to get out of a football environment and network with people who come from all walks of life.

“The players, they start off all shy and embarrassed, then by the end of the day you can’t get them out of the place, they absolutely love it.