IN WHAT was the most straightforward evening for any of the 18 AFL Women’s clubs, the Gold Coast Suns simply matched or selected the five players from their Academy. All five will provide different strengths and showed how talented they are over the last few years, beginning what looms as a massive era at the Suns.

>> EVERY PICK: National Draft | Recap

DRAFT HAUL

National Draft:

2. Havana Harris
27. Heidi Talbot
29. Mia Salisbury
41. Nyalli Milne
47. Tara Harrington

Gold Coast was always going to be a big winner heading into the 2024 AFLW Draft with five prospects inside the top 40 and the currency to select them all. Though the Suns traded out pick two, they essentially got it back via a bid for Havana Harris, with an additional bid coming for Mia Salisbury, before the Suns were able to just select Heidi Talbot, Nyalli Milne and Tara Harrington.

Aside from the bid on Harris, the other 17 clubs largely just kept to themselves and allowed the Suns to pick their Academy prospects knowing that they would do so either via a bid or just with their own selections. In the end, that is exactly what happened with the Sunshine State side able to add a generational player in Harris, as well as a variety of small and general midfielders who can also play other roles.

Harris is the obvious lock for Round 1 be it in the ruck, midfield or forward, with the latter two most likely to be the roles. The Bond Uni prospect – all of their draftees came from the Bull Sharks – will be a star in the coming years, but each of the other four have eye-catching traits in their own right. Talbot is a running machine with great speed and can play off all three lines, expect her to be a half-back to begin her football journey and could play early on.

Salisbury is a developing midfielder with high-level footy IQ, and both her and Harrington would be very close to cracking into the Suns side early in the season. If Harrington is fully fit, and Salisbury has a big preseason to further build her endurance, they are both capable of being half-back or in the middle, and traits to play wing if required.

Milne presents as perhaps the more long-term prospect, but also with fantastic upside. She has explosive speed that burns off opponents, and held down a key wing role for Queensland this season. She can also play half-forward and add pressure in the front half, which is a point of difference compared to the others who most likely start behind the ball. Regardless, the quartet of talents will begin Gold Coast’s surge up the AFLW ladder.