Some local star power was on hand at today’s StreetSmarts AFLQ Schools Cup on the Sunshine Coast, with Brisbane Lions AFLW Premiership winning players Belle Dawes, Lily Postlethwaite and Shannon Campbell visiting the Gala Day.
Belle, Lily and Shannon, who are Sunshine Coast products and hail from Maroochydore Roos AFC, were right at home as they showed off the silverwear the Lions claimed in April’s NAB AFLW Premiership.
There were selfies, autographs and high fives galore as they spent time meeting and cheering on the participating girls.
“It’s awesome to be here. It’s great to show off the Cup to all of these girls and even better to see so many girls playing footy!,” said Dawes.
“It wasn’t that long ago I was playing school footy in the AFLQ Schools Cup for St John’s so it’s been great to meet the St John’s girls of today and cheer them on.”
Campbell was cheering on her former school too; Maroochydore High. But she couldn’t get them over the line, as they suffered a tough loss to St Teresa’s 2-2-14 to 1-5-11 in a pool game.
340 girls from 17 school teams took part in today’s gala day as they ultimately vie for a sport in the StreetSmarts AFLQ Schools Cup state finals in October.
The competition is in its biggest year yet, with more than 12, 000 students participating right across Queensland and northern New South Wales.
Today at Maroochydore, St Teresa’s won the senior draw, and Sunshine Beach SHS the junior draw. They’ll both now progress to the Metro North/Sunshine Coast/Wide Bay Regional finals in July.
The boys are in action on Wednesday, with 425 boys in 17 teams contesting the senior and junior draws.
