Alexia Hamilton’s journey to the Gold Coast Suns has been a wild one

From winning gold at the Judo World Cadet Championships two years ago to dodging kangaroos on the footy field in Canberra, this young Sun’s journey to the AFLW has been a wild one.

FROM winning gold at the Judo World Cadet Championships two years ago to dodging kangaroos on the footy field in Canberra, Alexia Hamilton’s journey to the AFLW has been a wild one.

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The 19-year-old has always watched footy and supported the Sydney Swans but split her junior years between basketball, soccer and judo before deciding that Aussie rules was her passion.

Lexi Hamilton at Suns training. (Photo by Chris Hyde/AFL Photos/Getty Images)

Her talent was evident and soon she was named in the Eastern-Allies team for the 2018 AFLW under 18 National Championships, earning selection in the All-Australian squad and getting the opportunity to play in the EJ Whitten legends game curtain raiser game last year.

But then she was overlooked by the GWS Giants in her draft year.

“Last year I pulled up short,” she said.

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“I just expected it would come to me.”

Though disappointed, Hamilton refused to give up on her footy dream and returned to Canberra to play in the Queanbeyan Tigers premiership team just months before her name was read out by the Suns at pick 38.

The decision to nominate for the draft in her non-native state of Queensland paid dividends.

“I was at my uncle’s restaurant and we were all sat around watching and having a few snacks,” Hamilton said of draft day.

“You can have all the promises in the world but nothing compares to the day you hear your name called out.

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“As you go through the process, you have a few clubs that are having a sniff but for me, the Gold Coast presented with everything I wanted and I knew that it was where I wanted to be.

“I didn’t even bother with anywhere else because I knew my heart was set on the Suns.”

Suns AFLW player Alexia Hamilton. Picture supplied.

Hamilton is currently in the process of making the move to the Gold Coast and at least for now, putting on hold her nursing and paramedicine studies.

“I finished my final exam and an hour later I was on the plane so I’ve thrown myself into the deep end,” she said.

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“On day I’ll save you all.”

And of all the things Hamilton has to look forward to as an AFLW footballer, ditching the full length skins and the near freezing game day temperatures is near the top of the list.

“The girls were talking about it being cold the other night and I was like ‘I’m hot,” she said.

“I’m sure I’ll adjust and get a nice tan.”