ATHLETIC winger Summer Browning has pace to burn and showed plenty of promising signs as a bottom-ager in 2025. The Gold Coast Suns Academy member can play a variety of positions, and will look to headline the Suns’ draft crop this season in the wake of a huge haul in 2025.
We spoke to Browning at the Queensland Preseason Testing Day about her football journey, game, inspirations and goals for the year ahead.
Q: Summer, tell us a bit about your footy journey?
SB: “I started when I was like 12 and i played at Brunswick in Northern Rivers. I just got started through cousins and family. I didn’t play any other sport before that, and now I’m in this and I did Nationals and Queensland, it’s been good.”
Q: What’s your preferred position?
SB: “I enjoy wing, but I also like midfield as my secondary position.”
Q: Is that where you’ll think you’ll play a bit more this year?
SB: “Yeah I’m hoping to play a bit more mid for Suns, but for nationals probably wing.”
Q: What do you see as some of your strengths?
SB: “My run and carry, and I think I’m pretty aggressive.”
Q: What about your improvements?
SB: “My endurance and just full body strength in general.”
Q: Who’s had the most individual influence on your career?
SB: “Definitely Rhyce Shaw, last year’s coach, he definitely helped me enjoy footy again, a lot.”
Q: Do you support Gold Coast at the top level or someone else?
SB: “I support Brisbane. I don’t know why really, I’ve just always supported them, my mum does.”
Q: Who’s a player you look up to or model your game on?
SB: “I really like Mon Conti, I think she’s great. I definitely try and do some things she does.”
Q: You were part of the Under 17 Futures program, what was that experience like?
SB: “That was great, I loved it. Just meeting all the girls from around the country, it was so much fun.
Q: How do you think the Suns Academy and Queensland will go this year?
SB: “I think it will go great, we’ve got a good group of girls who are all friends. Just a good environment.”
Q: What goals do you set for yourself in 2026?
SB: “I want to get drafted, hopefully. For now I just want to be the best teammate I can and just play my best footy this year.”
