SOUTHPORT top-age prospect Sunny Lappin is one of a number of talented Under 18s in the Gold Coast Suns and Queensland programs, never mind the Sharks who have the bulk of the aforementioned future draftees as well.

Naturally tied to the Suns Academy due to living in Queensland where father Matthew coaches Southport, Lappin has dual father-daughter eligibility to both Carlton (196 AFL games) and St Kilda (55 games). It means at years end, potentially three clubs will look to earn first bid on the wing/midfielder who is firming as a top 30 pick.

Lappin has spent time as a half-forward in the past, moved up to a wing and has spent more time on the inside this season, becoming a well-rounded ball-winner. While her dash and smarts allow her to impact running hard down a wing, she is able to get first hands to it around the ball and be quick to hand or foot to clear the area.

She was among the best for the Maroons in their heart-stopping come-from-behind victory over Western Australia on day one of the AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships and our first Player Focus for the carnival.

>> SCOUTING NOTES: 2025 AFLW U18s – Queensland vs. Western Australia

PLAYER FOCUS:

2025 AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships – Round 1:
Queensland 9.5 (59) def. Western Australia 8.8 (56)

#12 Sunny Lappin (Queensland)
Stats: 23 disposals (12 kicks, 11 handballs) @ 50% CP & 50% DE, 5 marks, 6 clearances, 3 tackles, 4 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s, 85 AFL Fantasy points

FIRST QUARTER

Lappin had a relatively quiet start to the match with just two disposals in the first term, and her first touch coming at the 16-minute mark of the quarter. That was off the back of hard running on the defensive side of the wing where off a step she created space to kick. While it did get turned over, Lappin won another disposal less than two minutes later when told to drop into defence where she won it back hand and released perfectly to another teammate, starting an exit chain out of the back 50.

Watching Lappin closely in the match, it is evident that her value to the team does not just come in disposals. She holds her ground well and racked up plenty of metres just with unrewarded running alone. Often stuck on the “dead” wing, she also rotated on-ball at times but just could not get her hands on the ball.

SECOND QUARTER

It is no surprise that Lappin worked her way into the game off the back of that hard running, and recorded a game-high nine disposals in the second term to take her half-time total to 11. She started on a wing up against Olivia Crane and pushed forward when Queensland won the ball, though held her line at the top of 50 being positioned there for any dump exit kicks from the West Australian defence.

Lappin quickly doubled her disposal tally in the first two minutes when finding space between the arcs she handballed backwards to a teammate with more time, then pushed into space to take her first mark and kicked inside 50 to a contest. When having a rest, it was no surprise that the Sandgropers kicked back-to-back goals as Lappin had been in-tune with finding a loose opponent and standing next to them regardless if they were a wing, midfielder or forward.

Back on the ground, Lappin became the most prolific player over the next five minutes, as she racked up the ball and was releasing well by hand or setting up score assists. One such example was a clean handball to Mia Geere at half-forward despite being tackled, setting up her younger teammate to finish from long-range. She almost had a second goal assist when winning it out of the middle and dishing off to Alannah Welsh, but the shot went to the left for a behind.

THIRD QUARTER

Lappin started the third term on-ball against Juliet Kelly, but Western Australia won the first centre clearance and scored quickly. She won a handball away against Mia Russo at the next centre bounce attendance in the fourth minute, and took a nice mark on the wing in the sixth minute where her short, pinpoint pass inside found a target.

The Queensland midfielder would have another two disposals including a smart feign by hand in traffic in the middle and delivery to a half-forward stoppage, then getting into space at half-forward and putting it to the hotspot. That second kick was spoiled by the West Australian defender, but the idea was right.

Lappin spent time resting forward then almost had another touch when leading out to the wing but the delivery landed at her feet and spilled away, before moving back on-ball for the last few minutes showing her incredible versatility.

FOURTH QUARTER

Back on-ball to start the fourth, Lappin produced a brilliant play with multiple efforts that will no doubt be highlighted upon review. She won the first centre clearance despite being bumped, putting it out to space on the wing. She then followed up to receive it back via handball receive, smartly dishing off to Aiyana Pritchard who launched from similar range to Geere and the ball took a favourable bounce on the inside of the post for another goal.

Lappin would have another couple of marks throughout the final term taking her tally to five for the match, one being on the wing, the other in the back pocket. She had a couple of rushed kicks that were not perfect, but just the one resulted in a direct turnover. The top-ager produced a nice spoil to punch the ball towards the boundary midway through the term and then had another eye-catching play with her last touch which was a one-two handball with a teammate.

She not only dished off cleanly, but used her body to shepherd the opponent who was in pursuit of her teammate at half-forward. In the final match-winning play, Lappin was forward of the boundary throw-in had the ball bobbled out goalside. Fortunately she did not need to do anything as Georja Davies‘ snap bounced through the big sticks.

CLOSING THOUGHTS ….

Lappin projects as a well-balanced ball-winner who can impact both inside and outside of midfield, or go forward and hit the scoreboard when there in a more permanent role. Her ability to run all day and glide around the ground and through traffic enables her to win the ball and pick the right options to exit congestion, and though not as strong as some other inside midfielders, is smart so can get first hands to it and quickly dispose of it before being tackled.

Lappin is not necessarily a first-possession groundball winner but instead is best utilised as that second or third-possession winner unless coming off the ruck’s hands. Most of her clearances will come from around the ground where she has more space, but she can win a centre clearance by predicting the drop of the ball and getting there quickly.

Going forward, she will likely be more of a wing and flanker, but she holds her ground well and knows when to push in to the contest or stay out and hold her ground. Not afraid to complete unrewarded running, Lappin will often find the ball in space and then pick the right options going forward. Though her final execution at times could be slightly tweaked for precision, her decision making ability ensures the end product more often than not finishes to the advantage of her teammates.