Suns AFLW: Serene Watson was the first player to be drafted by the Gold Coast Suns

Growing up, Serene Watson played everything but Aussie rules.

GROWING up, Serene Watson played everything but Aussie rules.

Soccer, basketball, cheerleading, gymnastics, you name it, Watson played it.

A New South Welshwoman at heart, Watson’s first introduction to footy came at Fankhauser Oval watching her brother pull on the boots for the Southport Sharks.

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It wasn’t long before Watson went from spectator to star, the Sharks under 15 girls coach asking her to come and play after watching her have a kick around one afternoon.

“I was 12-years-old and probably was thinking ‘that’s a bit full-on’ to be playing but once I started playing, I loved it,” she said.

“When we moved up here, footy became everything.

“I played it for a bit and I wasn’t very good, to be honest.

“I slowly started falling in love with it as I started progressing through the ranks.”

Serene Watson was the first AFLW player drafted by the Gold Coast Suns. Picture: Jerad Williams

From a humble start, Watson quickly developed and was pushing for Queensland under 18’s selection at the age of 15 but an unexpected snubbing forced her to re-evaluate her approach to footy.

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“I was really trying to make it but I didn’t and that was the year I decided to switch on if I wanted to go somewhere in sport,” she said.

Watson finally cracked the elusive state side the following year and was named an All-Australian not only once but again in 2019 as one of Australia’s most promising rebound defenders.

Round Two of the 2019 NAB AFLW Under-18 Championships at Metricon Stadium, Carrara. Match between Queensland and Vic Country (white top). Queensland's Serene Watson. Picture: Jerad Williams

“I think I started not caring as much,” she said.

“I started playing carefree footy and also enjoying it because I put a lot of stress on myself.”

Late last year, Watson made history when she became the first AFLW player to be drafted to the Suns.

“There’s a lot of hype around it and I tried to push it aside a bit but it’s such an unreal honour to be thought of like that,” she said.

“I’m glad in a way I had to wait.”

Serene Watson. Suns AFLW players at all-in media day. Pic Tim Marsden

The 18-year-old is now hoping she is one of 22 who will be named to take her place in the Suns round one line-up.

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Although she won’t get the chance to engage in a grudge match against her partner and Carlton rising star Madison Prespakis this year due to the quirks of AFLW conferencing.

“We don’t really speak about it but hopefully I can just take it all in,” she said.

“I’d be nervous, happy, excited but I would try to just take it all in.”