It’s just two weeks until Gold Coast kicks off its inaugural AFLW campaign, and local product Molly Ritson says anticipation levels are at fever-pitch within the club.
It’s an exciting time for the club and the community to have Gold Coast’s first national female sporting team on the doorstep, and Ritson hopes the city can get behind the team during the eight-round AFLW season.
“It’s all becoming very real now,” she said.
“It’s the first year for us girls and there’s a lot of excitement around the club - we’ve put the effort in on the track so hopefully we can come out and bring it onto the field as well come Round 1.
“It’s unreal seeing that second game for us and our first home game being at our own ground Metricon Stadium.
“There’s already a bit of hype around that and it’s round 2 so (it will be great) to have the local community there.”
Ritson was alongside fellow AFL and AFLW players at the club’s Beach Open Training session at Palm Beach on Thursday.
The 20-year-old said it was fantastic to be involved in the session alongside the club’s male players.
“We aim to be the most integrated club in the country,” Ritson said.
“We’re out here with (the boys) supporting their training session.
“It’s awesome to see so many young ones down here, obviously the boys but now we’re seeing more and more girls down at these days which is very exciting.”
When asked about what fans can expect to see from Gold Coast’s newest sporting team this season, Ritson said the team was focussed on being consistent and unafraid to take the game on.
“We want to be confident with the footy in hand,” she said.
“We have to back ourselves that we’ve put the work in during pre-season so I think confidence on the field and knowing how each of us play and bouncing off each other.
“We’re going to have our own individual plan as will other teams so it’s just backing ourselves and running with it.”
The SUNS will play St Kilda in a match simulation fixture at 12pm this Saturday at Fankhauser Reserve to prepare for Round 1 on February 8.
