The Gold Coast SUNS have sent shockwaves through the AFLW competition after securing top Victorian talent Charlie Rowbottom with the number one overall pick in the 2021 NAB AFLW Draft.
Rowbottom made headlines last week after deciding to nominate for the Queensland draft pool, giving the SUNS access to the talented teenager with the first pick in the draft.
The 18-year-old is a powerful midfielder who can also cause serious damage inside 50 with her finishing skills.
SUNS AFLW Head of Women’s Football Fiona Sessarago said she was thrilled to have a player of Rowbottom’s calibre join the club.
“We saw Charlie as the best player in this year’s draft, so it’s fitting that we were able to select her with the number one overall pick,” Sessarago said.
“We invited Charlie and her family up to the Gold Coast recently to tour the club and facilities and were really impressed by her maturity and willingness to relocate from Victoria to begin her AFLW career.
“Charlie has some outstanding attributes as a footballer and a person which we are really excited to see more of when she moves up to the Gold Coast shortly.”
Rowbottom is considered one of the best young talents in the country and was named in the starting midfield of the 2021 NAB AFLW U19 All Australian team while also being a NAB AFLW Academy member.
Her height and skillset make her difficult to contain as an inside midfielder, while she also has the ability to go forward and hit the scoreboard through her overhead marking and booming kick.
She will be a valuable addition to Gold Coast’s midfield core amongst the likes of Hannah Dunn, Ali Drennan and Jamie Stanton.
Player Bio:
Club: Oakleigh Chargers
State: Vic Metro
Position: Midfielder/forward
Date of Birth: 22/01/03
Height: 179cm
