The Gold Coast SUNS are excited to announce AFLW defender Emma Pittman will return for her first AFLW game in over two years.

Pittman who is back into full training with the squad and playing for Coorparoo again in the QAFLW, said it was the best news she could have asked for after two seasons on the sidelines with an ACL injury.

“There are a lot of emotions, it’s not really real right now,” Pittman said.

“I’m so nervous and so excited at the same time.

“I’m just so stoked to run out with the girls, they’re my second family and I’ve gotten really close with them over the last two years so to be able to run out with them will be really exciting.”

Pittman last played an AFLW match on March 17, 2019 for the Brisbane Lions.

Since then it’s been a journey marred by injury.

She signed a new contract with the SUNS as an expansion player, but after returning to play her first game back for Coorparoo went down with the serious knee injury.

From there her first rehab process began, hours spent on the physio bench and grinding away in the gym each week.

Just as she thought she was coming out the other side of the rehab, she was knocked down again, re-injuring her ACL which essentially restarted the process and ruled her out of the 2020 AFLW season.

Pittman has worked tirelessly since the setback and will be rewarded when she makes her club debut tomorrow night against Carlton at Metricon Stadium.

“There have been multiple ups and downs like a rollercoaster,” Pittman said.

“I’ve tried to not let myself get ahead of myself and just take it day by day.

“The girls and the environment they create and how they get around me and support me makes it that much more exciting.

“I’m not just doing it for myself, I’m doing it for the SUNS girls and SUNS family as well.”