AFLW: Suns no. 2 draft pick Havana Harris eyes midfield role alongside Charlie Rowbottom
Just days after being selected at No.2 in the AFLW draft Havana Harris is dreaming of a ‘team up’ she hopes will make the Suns shine in 2025. Find out about her AFLW goals here.
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The highly touted Havana Harris has headlined a monster haul of five academy products who all landed at the Gold Coast Suns during the AFLW draft.
Two-time under-18 All Australian Harris was selected at pick 2 after Gold Coast matched Melbourne’s bid. Standing at 183cm, the versatile prospect can play forward, ruck, or in the midfield, with her sights set on forming a potent one-two punch with two-time Club Champion Charlie Rowbottom in the latter.
“I’ve always idolised her,” Harris said of Rowbottom.
“She’s an awesome person as well as an awesome player, (I’m) looking forward to spending more time with her.”
“I haven’t been around footy for too long, it’s only been five years but the last few years it’s been Charlie Rowbottom and Lauren Bella and all those original (Suns) girls.”
Harris said she expects to start in the forward line, but has her sights set on joining Rowbottom and co. in the midfield.
“I’d be happy to play anywhere, I think I might get a run in the forward line this year,” she said.
“I don’t know if I’d go into the midfield straight away as we’ve got such a talented one.”
Harris was joined by fellow academy products Heidi Talbot, Mia Salisbury, Nyalli Milne and Tara Harrington as Suns draftees on Monday night.
All five girls had been playing senior footy for Bond University in the QAFLW this season, with the side finishing runners up after losing to Southport in the grand final.
While Harris described the loss as “disappointing”, she alongside Salisbury, Milne and Harrington figured in Bond’s 2023 flag.
The quintet will join the Suns with the club in a period of transition after slumping to 17th on the AFLW ladder with just one win in a testing season coming only 12 months after a promising finals debut.
Coach Cameron Joyce has since parted ways with the club while captain Tara Bohanna was traded to Carlton.
“It’s a lot easier as I know a lot of the girls already,” Harris said of joining the senior group.
“I’m keen to see who’s going to be coaching, it’ll be good.”
Harris was also a talented high jumper in her youth, and she attributed her versatile background to her Aussie rules rise.
“I literally did every sport you could think of growing up and the sport that stuck was athletics for a bit,” she said.
“I was doing high jump and sprints as well, that’s definitely helped a lot and something that I still want to work on is my speed and vertical jump.
“They’ve definitely helped and those are my strengths and I do want to keep improving that.”
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