Top five players in line to be pre-signed by the Gold Coast Suns for their inaugural AFLW side

MEET the top five football talents in line to become the first ever AFLW listed players by the Gold Coast Suns.

MEET the top five football talents in line to become the first ever AFLW listed players by the Gold Coast Suns.

The AFL has upgraded Gold Coast’s provisional AFLW licence to a full one and the Suns have been advised they can pre-sign three 17-year-olds from their academy from mid-January.

There are 21 girls in the Suns female talent academy born in 2001 who are eyeing off a piece of history with the club.

ALL SYSTEMS GO FOR SUNS AFLW SIDE

Five of those are in the national academy and have been identified as the best talent coming from Gold Coast’s academy zones and are the current frontrunners for the positions.

Find out more about each of the five prospects here:

Kitara Farrar in action during the NAB AFL Women’s Academy media opportunity at the Australian Institute of Sport on December 18, 2018 in Canberra, Australia. Picture: Brook Mitchell/AFL Media.

Kitara Farrar:

Height: 177cm

From: Cairns

DOB 28/03/2001

Local Club: South Cairns Cutters (Cairns)

Farrar is an explosive midfielder who typically plays on-ball or on the wing. She is a fantastic kick of the football and can easily use her speed to get away from stoppages and drive the ball forward. Farrar played 12 games for South Cairns in the AFL Cairns Women’s league, taking out the Jo Butland Medal for league Best & Fairest for the second year running. She played in the Gold Coast SUNS Winter Series team and has been a member of the Queensland Under 18 representative side over the last two years and was named in the All Australian squad on both occasions.

Gold Coast Suns academy player Ellie Hampson (far right).

Ellie Hampson:

Height: 169cm

From: Townsville

DOB 8/12/2001

Local Club: Hermit Park Tigers (Townsville)

Hampson possesses elite agility, allowing her to evade potential tacklers with ease. She is a strong and fierce competitor who also has an accurate kick, often allowing her to rebound off halfback. She is no stranger to second and third efforts and often earns praise from coaches for her work-ethic in games. Hampson played nine matches for her local Townsville club Hermit Park in 2018, kicking six goals, and was named in the best on four occasions. A Winter Series player and regular Queensland under-18 representative, Hampson was also named in the 2019 AFL Women’s Academy.

Suns academy player Serene Watson (far right): Photo by Richard Gosling

Serene Watson

Height: 175cm

From: Gold Coast

DOB: 3/11/2001

Local Club: Bond University (QAFLW)

Watson has been a leader in the Suns academy for many years and multiple Queensland under-18 representative. She plays primarily as a defender and is composed under pressure. Despite not being a typical big-bodied player, Watson has strong hands and can intercept well, but also has the versatility to run and carry from the backline. Watson earned an All-Australian cap for her performances at the under-18 championships and subsequently represented the All Stars in an under-18 State of Origin series as a curtain-raiser for the EJ Whitten Legends Game this year.

Gold Coast Suns academy player Charlotte Hammans. Picture: Supplied.

Charlotte Hammans:

Height: 172cm

From: Gold Coast

DOB: 18/03/2001

Local Club: Bond University (QAFLW)

Hammans is a crafty medium/tall forward with good goal-sense and awareness. Playing for Queensland in the 2018 National Championships, Hammans was the team’s leading goal-kicker, booting four goals in five games. She presents well to the football, makes strong leads and uses her bodywork to take marks. In her 10 matches for Bond University in the QAFLW, Hammans kicked 12 goals to finish eighth in the league goalkicking tally. Hammans also played in the State of Origin match for the All Stars after being included in the under-18 All-Australian squad.

Gold Coast Suns women's winter series game against GWS at Fankhauser Reserve. Suns player Dee Heslop. Picture: Mike Batterham

Dee Heslop:

Height: 169cm

From: Gold Coast

DOB: 30/07/2001

Local Club: Yeronga Devils (QAFLW)

Another player who featured heavily for Queensland in the under-18 championships, Heslop was rewarded by being included in the All-Australian squad and playing for the All Stars. Heslop has developed into a medium/tall utility who can play at both ends of the ground. She also has impressive running capacity which allows her to transition both ways. Heslop has been a key figure in the Suns Academy and represented the club in the Winter Series as a 16-year-old.