NEW Gold Coast Suns defender Kiara Bischa is still pinching herself over reaching the elite level, following her rise from talented under-age young gun to AFL Women’s player. Bischa was selected by the Suns with Pick 50 in last week’s AFLW Draft, and speaking to her in the aftermath of that, she could still hardly believe it.

“It’s certainly seems so crazy,” Bischa said. “I don’t think it’s sunken in just yet. But such a surreal feeling to be able to be picked up by a club I’ve followed since I was like four is just honestly so surreal, so excited.”

Bischa had a memorable 2023 season, where she stepped up not just for the Suns Academy, but for Queensland as well, and in the process got to known the AFLW Suns and the way they went about it.

“We’ve been very fortunate to integrate with the AFLW program quite a bit throughout the years,” Bischa said. “It’s just been an incredibly opportunity to be able to do that and just get an insight on what it’s like, to actually be apart of an AFLW program now is just amazing. There’s so much support already.”

Bischa will spend some of her off-season overseas as she heads to a pre-planned trip to Canada. However the defender wants to keep up with her running and gym there, and is keen to “try and make it work”.

Once she returns she will hit the ground running physically and metaphorically as she anticipates that her familiar defensive role is on the cards.

“Not just yet (sure of my role), but I feel like I’ll continue that defensive role,” Bischa said. “I’ve definitely solidified my position there over the last couple of years, but honestly very, very happy to just be here.”

Intending to study criminology, criminal justice and forensic science at Griffith University next year, the teenager has plenty to look forward to including re-joining former teammate Meara Girvan in the defensive group.

“I’m excited to meet all the girls and learn off all of them, but I think in particular, Meara Girvan,” Bischa said. “I used to play with her for Bond Uni and she got drafted at the start of the year, so that was such a cool moment to see her get the opportunity at AFLW level and now to be back teammates with her and hopefully get the chance to play alongside her in the backline again would be pretty incredible.”

Speaking of Bond Uni, the Bull Sharks broke through for their maiden QAFL Women’s flag after a number of close misses. That success came off the back of young guns like Bischa lifting the quality of the team and the depth ready to step in.

“That was just honestly an incredible moment to be part of the first senior women’s group for the club to win a premiership was honestly incredible and just such an amazing moment for everyone at the club and for the reserves to win as well made it 10 times better,” Bischa said.

As for 2024, Bischa said she was not setting any lofty goals, and more just focusing on becoming the best player she could be and being a sponge for her teammates to impart their knowledge.

“I think next year will just be learning as much as I can,” she said. “Getting used to this environment, and then hopefully making a debut, that would be pretty cool. Just one step at a time.”