Gold Coast Suns AFLW coach Cameron Joyce lauds Ashanti Bush’s speed and game sense after AFLW draft selection

Gold Coast Suns AFLW coach Cameron Joyce called Ashanti Bush’s speed and game sense her key selling points when it came to selecting her for the 2021 AFLW Draft.

Gold Coast Suns AFLW coach Cameron Joyce noted Ashanti Bush’s natural speed and game sense as her major weapons on the field. Photo: Rebecca Parker

GOLD Coast Suns AFLW coach Cameron Joyce called Ashanti Bush’s speed and game sense her key selling points when it came to selecting her for the 2021 AFLW Draft.

Bush was picked up by the Suns as pick number eight in the 2021 AFLW Draft to add to what has already been a stellar couple of years for the 19-year-old.

She reached the NTFL final with the Buffettes, was named the best on ground in the Arnhem Crow’s premiership win, featured with the Allies and played with the Hawthorn VFLW squad.

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Joyce met the young star while part of the Allies earlier this year and instantly noticed her speed and game sense.

“Draft day is one of the great days in this job. Being able to see these dreams fulfilled as these girls get drafted,” Joyce said.

“I met Ashanti with the Allies and could see her raw talent, her speed, her goal kicking ability and footy smarts at that time and was really keen to work with her again.

“We see her as a forward at the moment but could see her pushing into the midfield.

“Her speed and eye for the goal are real weapons for her and that’s what really caught our eye. We’re really looking forward to having her at Suns and seeing her reach her potential.

“Like all draftees it will be about her settle in at the club off the field and then hopefully through training she will be right in the competition for spots.”

At the Suns Bush will join Palmerston Magpies star Janet Baird who was selected in the 2020 Draft.

Both Territorians were picked up as part of the relationship the Suns have with the Darwin region, a relationship that Joyce wants to help strengthen.

In doing so he hopes the duo are the start of a long line of Territorians who get the chance to realise their AFLW dreams with Suns, with others potentially getting some experience as part of the Suns train-on squad.

“Janet had a couple of opportunities last year and hopefully she’s keen for more off the back of that,” Joyce said.

“The relationship with Darwin is really important for us. We will continue to grow that and hopefully these two are just of a long line of Territory talent with the Suns.

“We will have a train-on squad to complement our main squad and should see some more Territory talent in there.”