Friday June 17 not only marked the fifth annual Women of the SUNS Ladies Lunch, held for the second consecutive year at the Sea World Resort Conference Centre, but the event also was another live example of the Gold Coast community getting out in force to support their team.
With dusky pink peonies lining the room and a sea of champagne glasses at every table, attendees were not only able to enjoy a meal surrounded my fellow AFL supporters but also had the pleasure of a SUNS player on rotation at their table.
Gold Coast Football Club CEO, Andrew Travis, was tickled pink to join the vibrant ladies on the day.
“For the fifth year running we’ve sold out, over 400 ladies have come here to support this fantastic event,” he told SUNS TV.
“They get to sit with all our players, first and foremost- the chance to meet our players in a very different environment to what they are used to seeing them and we’ve got couple of guest speakers coming up later on today, and we’ll test how well our players know the feminine side of life.”
Chairman, Tony Cochrane, addressed guests on the day, igniting great cheers as he encouraged the women to rally behind the club and show their support at Metricon Stadium in the second half of the season.
SUNS ruckman Tom Nicholls was welcomed back as co-host for the lunch alongside Jess Skarratt, who has been involved with the event since its inception.
“Tom brings a bit of flare to the roll, a big Brazilian introduction today, I think it went for about 10 minutes and eventually he appeared,” said Travis.
“His one-liners and his personality, he’s a real favourite with the ladies and this is the second year he has hosted to event for us.”
Although Nicholls sheepishly disagrees with the fan-favourite crown the applause which greeted him after his Rio Carnival inspired entrance begged to differ.
“I think the women love all the boys equally,” he told SUNS TV.
The 24-year old says being able to celebrate Gold Coast women and the roll they play in helping the club made his decision to return as co-host in 2016 an easy one.
“It’s sold out again which is an awesome achievement for the club and for the women of the gold coast community- so today we’re just having a lunch that celebrates them, celebrates women in footy and all their support and their participation they have in the sport,” Nicholls told SUNS TV.
As an annual event, it’s one the players have grown quite fond of, despite their attempts to convince anyone otherwise.
“I think they like to put on a big bravado act saying that ‘I’m just going to chuck this suit on’ but deep down I think they spend hours in front of the mirror prepping themselves and getting ready for the event,” said Nicholls.
“You can tell by their attitudes when they come here they love it, they really get around the women and embrace the day for what it is.”
The Ladies Lunch was just one occasion last week where women were celebrated by the club. In support of women’s representative football, Metricon Stadium and the SUNS hosted two state representative U23’s matches showcasing the best talent from the Gold Coast and Western Australia.
