The Gold Coast SUNS wish to confirm that AFLW players Maddison Levi and Teagan Levi have been moved to the inactive list for the 2022 NAB AFLW Premiership Season.

Both Levi sisters has been offered the opportunity of a full-time position as part of the Australian Women’s Rugby program ahead of the 2022 Commonwealth Games and will be forced to put their promising AFLW careers on hold.

In her first season of AFLW, Maddison played eight of the nine AFLW matches and finished top-10 in the 2021 SUNS AFLW Club Champion award after showcasing her blistering speed and aerial ability throughout, finishing the season with three goals.

Teagan became a rising star through the SUNS Academy pathway in recent years and was recently selected at Pick 6 in the 2021 NAB AFLW Draft.

“Teagan and I are both extremely grateful for the opportunity the Gold Coast SUNS have given us and appreciate the support they have shown towards us pursuing our sporting endeavours both in AFLW and other codes,” Maddison Levi said.

“We love playing AFLW and I’ve loved playing for the SUNS and I know we’re both looking forward to kicking the footy again in the future.”

Gold Coast SUNS Head of Women’s Football Fiona Sessarago was full of praise for the young sisters and said the Club would continue to support its players.

“Although we’re disappointed to lose both Maddi and Teagan next year, as a Club we endeavour to be 100% supportive of our players and their ambitions both on and off the sporting field,” Sessarago said.

“Last AFLW season we were able to accommodate Maddi’s desire to participate in both sports, with her strong AFLW campaign preparing her for Australian Olympic selection.

“We have tried to provide every opportunity for the players to continue to pursue both sports at the elite level so it’s disappointing that flexibility hasn’t been reciprocated.

“We wish them both the best of luck for their aspirations to take part in next year’s Commonwealth Games and both girls will always be welcome to pull on the red and gold again in the future.”

The Club will look to add players to its 2022 NAB AFLW Premiership Season list in the coming days.