GOLD Coast firmly believes it will take the best player in the country with the No.1 selection following Charlie Rowbottom's shock decision to nominate Queensland.
Previously tipped to be among the handful of top Victorian picks in the state-based draft, Rowbottom looks all but certain to have her name read first next Tuesday night.
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"With having the No.1 pick, we certainly saw Charlie as the No.1 player in the country," new Gold Coast coach Cameron Joyce told the Credit to the Girls podcast.
"The opportunity to chat with her about her football, and from my end, where I saw her potentially playing and how we thought we might be able to improve her game – and also too, the young and exciting group we've got up here – were things we spoke to her about in trying to get her to make the move to Queensland.
"She's just an ultra-competitor, you can see that in the way she plays. She's played through the midfield and also up forward, taking numerous contested marks and scored heavily for the Oakleigh Chargers through their campaign in winning the NAB League premiership. She's also captain, so she has leadership qualities as well, so there's a few things that drew us to her."
In one of his first media appearances as coach, Joyce also discussed the Suns' other draft plans, where recruit Vivian Saad will play and his hopes for the side in his first season in charge.
>> Watch the 2021 NAB AFLW Draft LIVE via womens.afl and the AFLW Official App on Tuesday, July 27 from 6.45pm AEST
EPISODE GUIDE
1.10 – Reasons behind Joyce applying for the role as senior coach
2.42 – The Rowbottom nomination
6.46 – The Suns' draft plans
9.38 – The recruitment of Viv Saad and Claudia Whitfort
10.50 – Joyce's 2021/22 plans
