AFLW SUNS AFLW Season 2024

[Emerald Sun]

Havana Harris officially a Sun after matching Melbourne's bid at 2

 

[Big Red Machine]

Havana Harris officially a Sun after matching Melbourne's bid at 2

Interesting how Melbourne get that pick from us in that trade and then bid on Harris at pick 2...

 

[Mini GF]

The Future GOAT is ours

 

[Mini GF]

Where’s the updates
Where’s Jen when you need her

 

[ajhgcs]

We take Heidi Talbot from the academy via Cairns with our pick 27 and then match a bid from Essendon at pick 29 for Mia Salisbury

On SM-S928B using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Choppers]

Pick 41 Nyalli Milne is a SUN
Pick 47 Tara Harrington is a SUN

We got the 5.....

 

[Mini GF]

5 picks
5 local juniors
Plus the Melbourne Gun Mithen

I take my hat off to you Sesseyaro

Now let’s get the Coach selection right

 

[Jen2310]

You did very well, grabbing 5 players from the academy

I see that St Kilda picked up Alana Gee, who was delisted in the off season.

 

[Jen2310]

They say, even more next year, 6 academy players in 2025 riley mentioned. Womens footy is booming

 

[Stroppy]

Interesting how Melbourne get that pick from us in that trade and then bid on Harris at pick 2...

Remember that the draft rules in AFLW are different.
The match is the next pick you have provided it is within 18 of the bid.
We had pick 19, which was the price whether the Demons bid at 2 or the Crows bid at pick 13.
We might have asked them to bid so that Harris gets drafted where she probably should. It was pick 19 whoever bid.

 

[Choppers]

Players selected: Havana Harris (Academy bid match, pick No.2), Heidi Talbot (Academy, pick No.27), Mia Salisbury (Academy bid match, pick No.29), Nyalli Milne (Academy, pick No.41), Tara Harrington (Academy, pick No.47)

Gold Coast loaded up on its own Academy products, headlined by draft 'unicorn' Havana Harris. At 182cm, she is a strong forward/ruck rotation, but will likely spend plenty of time as an inside midfielder alongside bull Charlie Rowbottom and dynamic breakaway duo Claudia Whitfort and Lucy Single. Adding some movement through the line to complement the tough, contested nature of Rowbottom's work will work wonders for the Suns, while Harris can also be a marking target ahead of the footy in the absence of captain Tara Bohanna, who made her way to the Blues during Trade Period. Mia Salisbury also moves well through the midfield as a smart decision maker, as can Tara Harrington who boasts neat skill and the capacity to run and carry from the contest. Heidi Talbot is someone who will really help with the side's transition out of defence – something it struggled with this year after Bess Keaney made the move to Essendon – and Nyalli Milne is one who will offer a strong midfield/forward rotation, bringing some gameday versatility to the side.

Bolters, sliders, steals: How did your club go in the AFLW Draft?

Who did your club pick up at Monday night's Telstra AFLW Draft? Gemma Bastiani takes a look at the comp's newest players

www.afl.com.au

 

[Johnny Bananas]

5 picks
5 local juniors
Plus the Melbourne Gun Mithen

I take my hat off to you Sesseyaro

Now let’s get the Coach selection right

Is this a better outcome than staying at 2 and taking O'Hehir, Howley or Fish? I assume the Suns couldn't have matched all the academy players without trading down?

 

[Mini GF]

Is this a better outcome than staying at 2 and taking O'Hehir, Howley or Fish? I assume the Suns couldn't have matched all the academy players without trading down?

Hey I’ll let a more learned colleague hopefully answer that.

 

[Stroppy]

Is this a better outcome than staying at 2 and taking O'Hehir, Howley or Fish? I assume the Suns couldn't have matched all the academy players without trading down?

We would have to keep pick 2 and 20 in that case.
Take 2 to the draft, and hope that pick 20 works for Harris. Then try to use other picks to get Mithen.

But what if the Pies bid at 1 for Harris and we have to give up pick 2 anyway?

Too risky. Keep it simple, make it easy to get Mithen and the 5 kids and move on.

Finishing last and getting picks 1 and 19 would have been the best outcome. Centra at 1 and Harris using 19 to match a bid and figure out the rest from there.

 

[Mini GF]

We would have to keep pick 2 and 20 in that case.
Take 2 to the draft, and hope that pick 20 works for Harris. Then try to use other picks to get Mithen.

But what if the Pies bid at 1 for Harris and we have to give up pick 2 anyway?

Too risky. Keep it simple, make it easy to get Mithen and the 5 kids and move on.

Finishing last and getting picks 1 and 19 would have been the best outcome. Centra at 1 and Harris using 19 to match a bid and figure out the rest from there.

Since the GC Giants days of 1988 I’ve always believed the only way for us to win a National Comp is local juniors.

No side in any code has ever really tried to do it that way to the level I want it.
Right now the Suns are having a full crack in both genders at keeping local juniors way better than the Titans.

Let this play out.

 

[GC2015]

Since the GC Giants days of 1988 I’ve always believed the only way for us to win a National Comp is local juniors.

No side in any code has ever really tried to do it that way to the level I want it.
Right now the Suns are having a full crack in both genders at keeping local juniors way better than the Titans.

Let this play out.

It's become really obvious that this is our list building strategy for both the men's and women's programs. We've invested heavily in our academy and it's bearing fruit, so why not go the whole hog and fill the team with talented locals while we can? I think it's going to pay massive dividends in the future to have a generation of Gold Coasters playing for the Suns and (hopefully) winning the ultimate prize. Plenty of Gold Coast teams have tried the marquee signing approach (Warrick Capper, Wally Lewis, Gary Ablett, Jamal Idris, Jarryd Hayne, Jason Culina etc) and it clearly hasn't worked for a multitude of reasons. Now we're going to become a team for the Gold Coast that's made up of Gold Coasters.

Pick 2 - Havana Harris
Junior club: Burleigh
QAFLW club: Bond University
School: Varsity College

Pick 29 - Mia Salisbury
Junior club: Coolangatta
QAFLW: Bond University
School: Palm Beach Currumbin

Pick 41 - Nyalli Milne
Junior club: Burleigh
QAFLW: Bond University
School: Varsity College

Pick 47 - Tara Harrington
Junior club: Broadbeach
QAFLW: Bond University
School: Palm Beach Currumbin

 

[Jen2310]

Dekota Baron (Southport / Suns Academy / Queensland)
Tall Forward | 178cm | 03/01/2007


An athletic, strong key forward who is usually a reliable source of scoring, Baron is a top-end talent who is likely to land in the top five spots. She has always been a strong contested marker, but has developed her first few steps over time to be so potent on the lead. Baron has the capacity to get up around the ball and have a stint in the ruck too, but expect her to be a forward who pinch-hits in the ruck at the top level. One who has the capacity to kick bags of goals, and can be very damaging by foot in the field as well.


Georja Davies (Southport / Suns Academy / Queensland)
Key Position Utility | 183cm | 17/01/2007


The fourth Davies sister set to enter the AFLW behind Giselle, Fleur and Darcie, Georja is perhaps the most unique of the quartet. She started as a forward/ruck but has developed into a midfielder and also spent time behind the ball, which at her size makes her an incredible draft prospect. Her athletic profile is outstanding, and she has been one of the best for Queensland at the 2024 AFLW Under 18 Championships so far. Davies’ ceiling is unlimited.

Annabelle Foat (Bond University / Suns Academy / Queensland)
Midfielder | 163cm | 23/04/2007

One addition to the Top 25 to Watch in 2025 is Foat who produced a really consistent bottom-age national carnival where she averaged 19 disposals, four tackles and two clearances per game in a really strong Maroons on-ball group. Though not tall, Foat is fierce, and her season was capped off with a brilliant Under 17 Futures match where she collected 22 disposals, two marks, two tackles, two clearances, two inside inside 50s and two rebound 50s, covering the ground well.


Sunny Lappin (Southport / Suns Academy / Queensland)
Forward / Midfielder | 169cm | 28/11/2007

It has happened in the boys’ draft before but next year Lappin will become the first top draft talent to have three clubs she is eligible to join ahead of the draft through both Academy (Gold Coast) and father-daughter (Carlton and St Kilda). The daughter of Matthew, Lappin is a smooth-moving clever footballer who is damaging around goal and finds pockets of space in the front half of the ground. Boasting a slick athletic profile too, Lappin can be a damaging kick going inside 50 as well as finishing off herself.

Ava Usher (Bond University / Suns Academy / Queensland)
Midfielder | 163cm | 11/08/2007

What a player. Usher’s highlights are well renowned with her all-round profile the closest thing to complete that has been seen in a draft prospect yet. She has an elite athletic base that comes from her surf lifesaving, with explosive speed, high endurance and incredible strength to fend-off would-be tacklers. She has a booming kick, great smarts and most impressively, improved on her kicking in a short space of time to go from okay to damaging. The consensus number one pick.

Alannah Welsh (Southport / Suns Academy / Queensland)
General Utility | 170cm | 23/11/2007

There are no shortage of utilities in the draft this year and Welsh is yet another one. She won an Under 16s MVP when able to play as a defender and midfielder, but has also mostly spent time up forward for the Sharks and Suns. With Queensland in 2024, Welsh has played on all three lines and has traits that adapt with her strength and power, smarts and competitive nature all seeping out into her game. Her best position might be unknown, but she is a good field kick and can plug any holes a team has.

AFLW Draft: 25 to Watch in 2025

There are plenty of names to remember in 2025, with Queensland having a stack of AFLW Draft prospects next year, while talls are plentiful.

central.rookieme.com

 

[Mini GF]

Dekota Baron (Southport / Suns Academy / Queensland)
Tall Forward | 178cm | 03/01/2007


An athletic, strong key forward who is usually a reliable source of scoring, Baron is a top-end talent who is likely to land in the top five spots. She has always been a strong contested marker, but has developed her first few steps over time to be so potent on the lead. Baron has the capacity to get up around the ball and have a stint in the ruck too, but expect her to be a forward who pinch-hits in the ruck at the top level. One who has the capacity to kick bags of goals, and can be very damaging by foot in the field as well.


Georja Davies (Southport / Suns Academy / Queensland)
Key Position Utility | 183cm | 17/01/2007


The fourth Davies sister set to enter the AFLW behind Giselle, Fleur and Darcie, Georja is perhaps the most unique of the quartet. She started as a forward/ruck but has developed into a midfielder and also spent time behind the ball, which at her size makes her an incredible draft prospect. Her athletic profile is outstanding, and she has been one of the best for Queensland at the 2024 AFLW Under 18 Championships so far. Davies’ ceiling is unlimited.

Annabelle Foat (Bond University / Suns Academy / Queensland)
Midfielder | 163cm | 23/04/2007

One addition to the Top 25 to Watch in 2025 is Foat who produced a really consistent bottom-age national carnival where she averaged 19 disposals, four tackles and two clearances per game in a really strong Maroons on-ball group. Though not tall, Foat is fierce, and her season was capped off with a brilliant Under 17 Futures match where she collected 22 disposals, two marks, two tackles, two clearances, two inside inside 50s and two rebound 50s, covering the ground well.


Sunny Lappin (Southport / Suns Academy / Queensland)
Forward / Midfielder | 169cm | 28/11/2007

It has happened in the boys’ draft before but next year Lappin will become the first top draft talent to have three clubs she is eligible to join ahead of the draft through both Academy (Gold Coast) and father-daughter (Carlton and St Kilda). The daughter of Matthew, Lappin is a smooth-moving clever footballer who is damaging around goal and finds pockets of space in the front half of the ground. Boasting a slick athletic profile too, Lappin can be a damaging kick going inside 50 as well as finishing off herself.

Ava Usher (Bond University / Suns Academy / Queensland)
Midfielder | 163cm | 11/08/2007

What a player. Usher’s highlights are well renowned with her all-round profile the closest thing to complete that has been seen in a draft prospect yet. She has an elite athletic base that comes from her surf lifesaving, with explosive speed, high endurance and incredible strength to fend-off would-be tacklers. She has a booming kick, great smarts and most impressively, improved on her kicking in a short space of time to go from okay to damaging. The consensus number one pick.

Alannah Welsh (Southport / Suns Academy / Queensland)
General Utility | 170cm | 23/11/2007

There are no shortage of utilities in the draft this year and Welsh is yet another one. She won an Under 16s MVP when able to play as a defender and midfielder, but has also mostly spent time up forward for the Sharks and Suns. With Queensland in 2024, Welsh has played on all three lines and has traits that adapt with her strength and power, smarts and competitive nature all seeping out into her game. Her best position might be unknown, but she is a good field kick and can plug any holes a team has.

AFLW Draft: 25 to Watch in 2025

There are plenty of names to remember in 2025, with Queensland having a stack of AFLW Draft prospects next year, while talls are plentiful.

central.rookieme.com

Holy Mackeral. When you read what’s coming through as well as the younger talent already on the list you’d think prospective Coaches will be lining up to coach us.

Also coming off finishing 2nd last there really isn’t much pressure on the new coach initially.

 

[GC2015]

Sunny Lappin (Southport / Suns Academy / Queensland)
Forward / Midfielder | 169cm | 28/11/2007

It has happened in the boys’ draft before but next year Lappin will become the first top draft talent to have three clubs she is eligible to join ahead of the draft through both Academy (Gold Coast) and father-daughter (Carlton and St Kilda). The daughter of Matthew, Lappin is a smooth-moving clever footballer who is damaging around goal and finds pockets of space in the front half of the ground. Boasting a slick athletic profile too, Lappin can be a damaging kick going inside 50 as well as finishing off herself.

Ava Usher (Bond University / Suns Academy / Queensland)
Midfielder | 163cm | 11/08/2007

What a player. Usher’s highlights are well renowned with her all-round profile the closest thing to complete that has been seen in a draft prospect yet. She has an elite athletic base that comes from her surf lifesaving, with explosive speed, high endurance and incredible strength to fend-off would-be tacklers. She has a booming kick, great smarts and most impressively, improved on her kicking in a short space of time to go from okay to damaging. The consensus number one pick.

AFLW Draft: 25 to Watch in 2025

There are plenty of names to remember in 2025, with Queensland having a stack of AFLW Draft prospects next year, while talls are plentiful.

central.rookieme.com

Interesting to see the two highest rated players that have been coached by former Suns assistant coach Skinny Lappin now look like top 25 draft prospects. Skinny has been working with both Sunny and Ava at Hillcrest since 2019 and seems to have had a big impact. I guess it just shows how much of an impact it can make to have former AFL/AFLW players involved at the school level who are passionate about pushing footy programs. Former Sun Joel Tippett is doing his part at PBC and we've recently seen other former Suns Rischtelli + Malceski coaching their sons' primary school to a state championship a few months ago.

Annabelle Foat's father Simon is also heading up the Varisty College AFL ASPIRE program that's just recently produced guns like Rogers, Lombard and Havana Harris. Shoutout to Jamie Stanton as well who has played a big role in pushing footy at Southport High and coached all four Davies girls on their way to the AFLW. Clearly this recent push into the schools is working - just need to keep building momentum and establishing more footy programs at schools throughout the GC.

Dekota Baron is an interesting story, though. Not many academy graduates come from our the small portion of Logan that falls in our zone. They all seem to be outstanding prospects that we should try to retain.

 

[Jen2310]

With former captain Tara Bohanna now donning the navy blue, fresh recruits Havana Harris and Lily Mithen will help to reshape Gold Coast's forward line. Mithen is likely to start in attack and rotate up into the midfield/wings when necessary, while Harris can also split her time between the forward line and midfield. Given her prowess in the air, she and forward Darcie Davies could also put some pressure on ruck Lauren Bella's position in the team. Daisy D'Arcy's ACL injury late in the 2024 season means she will likely miss some of the year, with Wallis Randall or draftee Heidi Talbot the best options to replace her coming off half-back. A host of players – Annabel Kievit, Sienna McMullen, Keeley Fullerton, and Mia Salisbury – can play through the midfield, either on the wing or inside the contest, leaving Georgia Clayden a chance to return to a key defensive position in support of Katie Lynch and Charlotte Wilson if needed. Nyalli Milne will also threaten for Jamie Stanton's small forward role.


B: Katie Lynch, Charlotte Wilson
HB: Niamh McLaughlin, Meara Girvan, Daisy D'Arcy
C: Taya Oliver, Lucy Single, Georgia Clayden
HF: Lily Mithen, Havana Harris, Elise Barwick
F: Darcie Davies, Jacqueline Dupuy
Foll: Lauren Bella, Charlie Rowottom, Claudia Whitfort
I/C: Jamie Stanton, Annabel Kievit, Sienna McMullen, Keeley Fullerton, Mia Salisbury


Depth: Nyalli Milne, Ella Smith, Ella Maurer, Kiara Bischa, Clara Fitzpatrick, Wallis Randell, Heidi Talbot, Maddy Brancatisano, Tara Harrington

Your club's best 21: Who's in, who's out, who's new

Gemma Bastiani has compiled her predicted starting 21 for each team after the conclusion of the Trade Period and Telstra AFLW Draft

www.afl.com.au

 

[robo_1]

With former captain Tara Bohanna now donning the navy blue, fresh recruits Havana Harris and Lily Mithen will help to reshape Gold Coast's forward line. Mithen is likely to start in attack and rotate up into the midfield/wings when necessary, while Harris can also split her time between the forward line and midfield. Given her prowess in the air, she and forward Darcie Davies could also put some pressure on ruck Lauren Bella's position in the team. Daisy D'Arcy's ACL injury late in the 2024 season means she will likely miss some of the year, with Wallis Randall or draftee Heidi Talbot the best options to replace her coming off half-back. A host of players – Annabel Kievit, Sienna McMullen, Keeley Fullerton, and Mia Salisbury – can play through the midfield, either on the wing or inside the contest, leaving Georgia Clayden a chance to return to a key defensive position in support of Katie Lynch and Charlotte Wilson if needed. Nyalli Milne will also threaten for Jamie Stanton's small forward role.


B: Katie Lynch, Charlotte Wilson
HB: Niamh McLaughlin, Meara Girvan, Daisy D'Arcy
C: Taya Oliver, Lucy Single, Georgia Clayden
HF: Lily Mithen, Havana Harris, Elise Barwick
F: Darcie Davies, Jacqueline Dupuy
Foll: Lauren Bella, Charlie Rowottom, Claudia Whitfort
I/C: Jamie Stanton, Annabel Kievit, Sienna McMullen, Keeley Fullerton, Mia Salisbury


Depth: Nyalli Milne, Ella Smith, Ella Maurer, Kiara Bischa, Clara Fitzpatrick, Wallis Randell, Heidi Talbot, Maddy Brancatisano, Tara Harrington

Your club's best 21: Who's in, who's out, who's new

Gemma Bastiani has compiled her predicted starting 21 for each team after the conclusion of the Trade Period and Telstra AFLW Draft

www.afl.com.au

Who will be the new captain?