In a historical moment for the club, the Gold Coast SUNS have announced Leah Kaslar and Sam Virgo as inaugural captains of the AFLW team in 2020.
The pair have a combined 36 games of AFLW experience and were natural choices as co-captains after both having held leadership roles in the past.
Kaslar said it was a privilege to be appointed into a leadership position at the Gold Coast SUNS.
“I’m really proud to be an inaugural captain of the AFLW team,” Kaslar told SUNS Media.
“I’ve supported the SUNS since the inception of the club in 2011 and back then I never even thought there’d be a women’s team so it’s quite unreal to be the captain.
“I’ll do my best to make the club and the Gold Coast proud.”
“If we can play our role in inspiring the next generation of female footballers on the coast, that would be a dream come true.”
Virgo has served under Kaslar as a vice-captain in the past and said she was looking forward to working together again in 2020.
“I’m very excited and really honoured to represent my family and this great club.
“We’re all on the same journey together and we’ve all bought in for the long haul.
“I’m looking forward to what we can achieve both on and off the field and hopefully we can make the Gold Coast proud.”
Tiarna Ernst, Sally Riley and Jamie Stanton will play an important role as part of the club’s inaugural leadership group, helping to drive the team and the club’s football program.
SUNS Head of Women’s Football Fiona McLarty said it was important see the group come together and evolve through pre-season before settling on the leadership structure.
“We went through a comprehensive process that involved input from a number of different groups and we’re excited to have Leah and Sam as the club’s inaugural captains in 2020,” McLarty told SUNS Media.
“Both players bring with them different aspects of leadership, but it’s been great to see how they have complimented each other around the group both on and off the field.
“Tiarna, Sally and Jamie have each bought their own unique experiences, and we’ll rely heavily on them to support our captains and lead our group of 30 players.”
The entire squad of 30 AFLW players will be officially presented with their playing guernsey at the club’s free family Season Launch event on Friday night at HOTA.
