Gold Coast Suns players seal Territory alliance with Cage of Death croc dive
Gold Coast Suns players Brandon Ellis and Tayla Thorn have started their club’s NT partnership with a swim with some Territory natives in Darwin.
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GOLD Coast Suns players Brandon Ellis and Tayla Thorn have started their club’s NT partnership with a swim with some Territory natives in Darwin.
Jumping into Crocosaurus Cove’s Cage of Death, the Gold Coast pair lapped up the chance to swim with 4.5m saltie William on Sunday.
Suns recruit Ellis said it was important to sow club roots in Darwin, get around potential fans and show up-and-coming talent the Gold Coast was the club for them.
“(Darwin) is an Academy zone for the Suns and we’ve got a fair few boys from the NT down with us and obviously in the women’s program too,” Ellis said.
“It’s important to recognise that and give back.
“It’s such an untouched area up here and there’s so much talent so the more we can keep growing the game and recognise the talent up here, the better the whole competition is going to be for it.”
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Territory-born Thorn is one such player who has already experienced the talent pathway, joining the Suns this year after one season with Adelaide in 2017.
“The partnership has been fantastic for me because it gave me a pathway back into AFLW and it also gives the girls a chance to see there is that pathway,” she said.
“Gold Coast is a lot like Darwin and moving there, it just feels like home.”
Gold Coast chief executive Mark Evans said it was important for players to tap into the Darwin community when they could.
“It’s a great partnership for us because it will help grow talent and participation,” he said.
“It gives us potential to grow a new fan base and help grow the club as well.”
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