Gold Coast Suns AFLW team put aside bonding to battle for a place in Round 1 team in pre-season game

The Gold Coast Suns women’s team have spent recent months bonding but with spots on the line in their one and only pre-season game, the gloves are off. Suns defender Lauren Ahrens chats about fighting for a spot in the Round 1 side as the club prepares to play St Kilda in a pre-season clash on the Gold Coast.

THE Gold Coast Suns women’s team have spent recent months bonding but with spots on the line in their one and only pre-season game, the gloves are off.

Gold Coast will play against St Kilda on Saturday at Fankhauser Reserve, starting at 12.15pm, where coach David Lake will have his greatest chance to cast his eye over his players in a game against an opposing club.

Suns defender Lauren Ahrens is among the first-year players hoping to prove to Lake and the rest of the coaching department she deserves a spot in the side for the club’s history-making Round 1 game against GWS on February 8.

“This is it,” Ahrens said.

“As much as we need to come together and do all our team things, it is competitive for spots.

“Everyone knows it’s a team-first culture, though.”

Gold Coast SUNS AFLW Lauren Ahrens with nippers on the beach at Currumbin. Left to right they are, Ari Hamill 9, Mila-May Berg 9, Lauren Ahrens, Billie Berg7 and Leo Hamill 7. Picture Glenn Hampson

With the likes of defenders Sam Virgo and Leah Kaslar on the Suns AFLW list, Ahrens has her hands full when it comes to locking down a starting position going into 2020 but she couldn’t be happier with how she is tracking.

“There is definitely some healthy competition and there are nerves with so many first year players here,” Ahrens said.

“We will see who gets the opportunity for Round 1.

“We really want to play how we want to play (against St Kilda) and see how we do that together. It’s going to be a good hitout and I’m sure St Kilda, who are also a new team, will bring it.”

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Two players who won’t be available to play this weekend are Emma Pittman and Kitara Whap-Farrar.

Both are working their way back from injury, with Pittman suffering a setback in her return from an ACL injury and Whap-Farrara working to be ready for the start of the season next month after having knee surgery last year.

Dee Heslop has transitioned back into full training after a shoulder reconstruction and could be available to play while Cheyenne Hammond rejoined the main group this week after recovering from an adductor injury.

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