Gold Coast SUNS have finalised its list for the 2023 AFLW season with the addition of SUNS Academy young gun Darcie Davies as a Northern Academy Priority Selection earlier this month.

The 17-year-old is one of the country’s finest young prospects having starred coming up through the ranks of the SUNS Academy programs and as a member of the 2023 NAB AFLW Academy squad.

Standing at 184cm, the younger sister of now teammate Giselle Davies and GWS Giants player Fleur Davies completes the SUNS AFLW list with 30 active players now confirmed for the 2023 season.

Davies says the club’s desire to sign her for the 2023 season was a pleasant surprise to her.

“When I was told the SUNS wanted to sign me to the squad for this season I didn’t know what to say… I was just speechless,” Davies said.

“My goal this season would be to get an AFLW debut. A debut with Giselle on the field too would be amazing, it’s been a long time since we’ve played together.

“I’m also looking forward to developing my game. Hopefully playing at this high standard I can get to the level I want to be at.”

Davies, who has also captained the Queensland Under 17 netball side, made her QAFLW debut for Southport in 2022 as a 16-year-old, also representing Queensland at the NAB AFLW Under 18 Championships.

She joins a long list of SUNS Academy products to graduate into the SUNS AFLW squad with ten former Academy members currently on the list.

”We are thrilled to have Darcie on board for the upcoming season,” GC SUNS Head of Women’s Football Fiona Sessarago said.

“It’s always special to see a player come up through our Academy teams and earn an opportunity in our AFLW squad.

“To have a player like Darcie, who is an elite young talent in multiple sports, commit to the club is fantastic for the SUNS and for Gold Coast football.”

Davies is the eighth player to have joined the club during the AFLW off-season alongside Maddy Brancatisano (Sign & Trade, Richmond), Jordan Membrey (Sign & Trade, Collingwood), Ella Maurer (Sign & Trade, North Melbourne), Clara Fitzpatrick (Sign & Trade, St Kilda), Niamh McLaughlin (Ireland), Cara McCrossan(Supplementary Draft, Pick 6) and Meara Girvan (Supplementary Draft, Pick 10).