The Gold Coast SUNS are pleased to announce the AFLW priority signing of Lauren Ahrens.



Ahrens is a key defender who can play tall or small and is currently representing the SUNS in the QW Winter Series.



Originally from Coolangatta on the Gold Coast, Ahrens moved down to Melbourne for her studies and is currently playing for Essendon’s VFLW side after a stint with Melbourne University and St Kilda.



She’s in the process of completing a Master’s degree in teaching.



Ahrens will return home to play for the SUNS in the 2020 AFLW season and the 26-year-old said conversations with AFLW Senior Coach David Lake and Head of Women’s Football Fiona McLarty convinced her to commit to the club.



“It’s really overwhelming and I’m so excited to have this opportunity,” she said.



“It’s something I didn’t really see coming so it’s really exciting.



“Lakey and Fiona are both really great people and it’s really important for me to have relationships with really good people.”



Ahrens said playing in the first QW Winter Series match at Metricon Stadium was a feeling she wanted to experience again.



“I can’t even explain how special it was to come off the field and see all my friends and family there,” she said.



“Also to get to know some of the girls and everyone, they’re all just really good people.



“It really means a lot to me to involved with such a good group.



“It was really exciting to see how well we jelled and how quickly we came together in such a short period of time and where we can go with the players that we have.”



Ahrens’ signing follows that of Maddy Roberts last month and takes the SUNS’ list to 17 players ahead of the clubs entry into the AFLW competition in 2020.



GC SUNS AFLW list as of June 12.



Charlotte Hammans

Ellie Hampson

Kitara Whap-Farrar

Jamie Stanton

Tori Groves-Little

Paige Parker

Tiarna Ernst

Jacqui Yorston

Sam Virgo

Lauren Bella

Emma Pittman

Leah Kaslar

Jasmyn Hewett

Jordann Hickey

Sally Riley

Maddy Roberts

Lauren Ahrens