A trio of Gold Coast SUNS stars are in contention for maiden AFLW All-Australian selections after being named in the extended squad on Tuesday.
Midfielders Charlie Rowbottom and Claudia Whitfort alongside versatile defender Daisy D’Arcy all earned selection in the squad following superb campaigns with all three in the running for selection in the final 21-player All-Australian Team, to be announced at the W Awards later this month.
Rowbottom reaffirmed her position as one of the AFLW’s finest midfielders, going from strength-to-strength in her nine matches this season. The 20-year-old led the league for contested possessions (17.3 per game) as well averaging 7.1 clearances (2nd in the AFLW), 26.8 disposals (6th in the AFLW) and 9.7 tackles per game (3rd in the AFLW).
Whitfort didn’t miss a minute of the SUNS 2023 season in which she took her game to another level. The Season Seven Club Champion runner-up found herself in the league’s top echelon for clearances (6.5 per game, 5th in the AFLW) and contested possessions (13.5 per game, 6th in the AFLW) whilst also impacting on the scoreboard with four goals throughout the season from a career-high 24.5 touches per game.
D’Arcy once again provided poise and composure in defensive 50 whilst regularly launching the SUNS forward. No SUNS defender averaged more disposals than the 20-year-old (15.5 per game) who sat comfortably inside the league’s top 10 for rebound 50’s (4.5 per game, 7th in the AFLW).
Rowbottom and D’Arcy, alongside Lucy Single, are also in the running for selection in the 22Under22 team. Submit your votes here.
The All-Australian Team will be named at the W Awards on November 27 by a selection panel comprising Nicole Livingstone (Chair), Andrew Dillon, Laura Kane, Jason Bennett, Kelli Underwood, Sarah Black, Katie Loynes, Narelle Smith and Megan Waters.
