Suns coach David Lake reveals his biggest fear ahead of their AFLW league debut

Suns AFLW coach David Lake believes the biggest challenge for his side will be living up to expectation as they prepare to be the first national women’s sporting side to represent the Gold Coast.

SUNS AFLW coach David Lake believes the biggest challenge for his side will be living up to expectation as they prepare to be the first national women’s sporting side to represent the Gold Coast.

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As they prepare to make their AFLW debut against the GWS Giants tomorrow afternoon in Sydney, the Suns are determined to overcome the Gold Coast’s checkered sporting past and deliver success to a region crying out for victory.

Suns AFLW team are playing their first game this weekend in Sydney. Suns AFLW debutants Jade Pregelj, Cheyenne Hammond, Molly Ritson, Lauren Ahrens, Jordann Hickey, Serene Watson, Kalinda Howarth, Dee Heslop, Kate Surman, and Lexi Hamilton at Gold Coast Airport, Coolangatta. Picture: Jerad Williams

“I think our greatest challenge will be the expectation we place on ourselves,” he said.

“We don’t want to let down the community.

“We’ve learnt plenty, we’ve trained hard, all those boxes are ticked but now it’s about competing with expectation.”

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Originally from Coolangatta before moving to Melbourne, defender Lauren Ahrens was also excited to represent her home region.

“We have a lot of locals in the team, whether we’ve moved away and come back or been here our whole lives, it’s something we really thrive on and we’re really proud of,” she said.

“We’re going to do everything we can to make the Gold Coast proud as well.”

Lauren Ahrens during a Gold Coast Suns AFLW training session on February 04, 2020 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Ahrens said she was most looking forward to embracing her family in the stands after the game, her partner flying up from Melbourne on his birthday for the occasion.

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“The nerves are starting to hit now but I’m really excited,” she said.

With at least 60mm of rain predicted to fall throughout the day, Lake said the weather wouldn’t impact his side’s game style.

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“In everything we’ve done in those practice matches, we’ve brought effort and intent,” he said.

“We’ll just do it with a little bit of water on us and a little bit of dirt but we will turn up, that’s what I do know.”