| Sunny Lappin | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Sunny Lappin | ||
| Born | (2007-11-28) 28 November 2007 | ||
| Original team | Southport Sharks (QAFLW) | ||
| Draft | No. 4, 2025 AFLW draft | ||
| Height | 169 cm (5 ft 7 in) | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Gold Coast | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 2026– | Gold Coast | 0 (0) | |
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2025. | |||
| Source: AustralianFootball.com | |||
Sunny Lappin is a professional Australian rules footballer who was selected by the Gold Coast Suns with the fourth pick in the 2025 AFL Women's draft.[1]
Early life
Lappin was born in Melbourne and grew up on the Gold Coast from the age of six when her father accepted an assistant coaching role with the Gold Coast Suns in 2014.[2] Her father, Matthew Lappin, is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played 251 AFL games for Carlton and St Kilda, as well as briefly playing for Gold Coast's reserves team in 2015.[3] Her first cousin once removed, Nigel Lappin, is also a former professional footballer who played 279 AFL games for Brisbane, which included their triple premiership era in the early 2000s.[4] Her second cousin, Meg Lappin, is a professional AFLW player with the Brisbane Lions.[5]
Sunny attended Hillcrest Christian College throughout her upbringing[6] and initially played basketball in her younger years before switching to Australian rules football shortly after the AFLW competition was established when she began playing junior football for the Southport Sharks as a 10-year-old.[7] A year later she convinced school friend and future Suns teammate Ava Usher to begin playing football instead of her preferred sports of basketball, netball and surf life saving.[8] In 2019, the pair would lead Hillcrest Christian College to a AFL Queensland Junior State Championship[9] and both were invited to join the Gold Coast Suns Academy soon after. Along with football, Lappin and Usher continued to play basketball for their school and were Hillcrest Christian College's top scorers in their 2023 UI7 Australian National Schools Basketball Championship.[10]
Leading into her draft year, Lappin was eligible to be father-daughter drafted to Carlton or St Kilda, as well as academy elgiible for the Gold Coast, and after many months of speculation she elected to nominate the Gold Coast Suns as her draft preference.[11] Lappin's achievements in her draft year include All-Australian honours after an outstanding performance at the U18 National Championships for Queensland and a best on ground performance for Southport in their 2025 QAFLW Senior Grand Final victory.[12]
AFLW career
Lappin was drafted to her hometown team, the Gold Coast Suns, with the fourth selection in the 2025 AFL Women's draft after the Suns matched a bid from Adelaide.[13]
References
- ^ "Lappin: Family, friends and building 'something special'". Gold Coast Suns. 16 December 2025. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
- ^ "SUNS Lappin up new coach's experience". Gold Coast Suns. 19 November 2014. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
- ^ "Skinny Lappin to the rescue". goldcoastfc.com.au. Retrieved 2019-01-16.
- ^ "Their fathers conquered the AFL. Now it's the daughters' turn". Sydney Morning Herald. 17 December 2025. Retrieved 19 December 2025.
- ^ "Calsher Dear shocks sister as Hawthorn's AFLW team drafts Maya Dear". 7News. 16 December 2025. Retrieved 20 December 2025.
- ^ "Daughter of AFL great ready to go for gold at AFLQ Schools Cup". Gold Coast Bulletin. 11 October 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
- ^ "'Wasn't going to let that go': Why Lappin chose Suns over 'heart strings'". AFL.com.au. 16 December 2025. Retrieved 20 December 2025.
- ^ "'She's fierce': Powerful story behind sad photo of young star… who was ready for AFLW at just 16". Fox Sports Australia. 12 December 2025. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
- ^ "Hillcrest Girls Win AFL Schools Cup State Championship". Hillcrest Christian College. 22 November 2019. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
- ^ "A massive congratulations to our U17 Div 1 women who emerged victorious, clinching the National Championship in a nail-biting game that kept us on the edge of our seats". Hillcrest Christian College - Facebook Profile. 15 December 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2025.
- ^ "Sunny by name, Sunny by nature: Lappin nominates the SUNS". Gold Coast Suns. 22 October 2025. Retrieved 15 December 2025.
- ^ "It's always Sunny on the Gold Coast: Top draft prospect makes her choice". AFL.com.au. 22 October 2025. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
- ^ Bastiani, Gemma (15 December 2025). "Bolters, sliders, steals: how did your club go in the AFLW draft?". afl.com.au. Retrieved 15 December 2025.
External links
- Sunny Lappin's profile on the official website of the Gold Coast Football Club
