As the Gold Coast SUNS AFLW team prepare to make history in Blacktown on Saturday, it’s not just the girls set to play their first AFLW game who are buzzing this week.

For Sally Riley, a player with three seasons of AFLW football to her name, she’s just as keen as some of the teenagers on the list to hit the park against GWS.

“I’m very excited. It’s been a long pre-season and managing life and work around it,” Riley said.

“You get to this point in time and you know you’ve done everything.

“Personally I know I’m the fittest I’ve ever been, I’m pretty happy with what I’ve done thus far.

“I’m pretty relaxed but I am excited and I can’t wait to see the girls out there, especially quite a few pulling on the jumper for the first time.”

The SUNS will have at least eight players set to make their AFLW debuts in the Round 1 clash.

For Riley, who is a PE teacher working at Miami State High School, she sees it as an opportunity to inspire the next generation of footballers on the Gold Coast.

“The growth (of the women’s game) is huge not only from us at the top level but it just starts from the Under 10s and the Under 8s,” Riley said.

“My day job as a PE teacher, I’m loving it seeing the amount of girls that are kicking the footy these days.

“We’ll see that up here on the Coast as more and more teams and people see us out there and think they can do it too.

“For me that’s one of the most exciting parts of it all.”

Riley was announced as one of a five-person leadership group last week and if selected, will run out as one of the most experienced SUNS on Saturday in Blacktown.

The match kicks off at 12:10pm (AEST) and will be broadcast on Fox Footy and 7mate.