Brisbane Lions AFLW Senior Coach Craig Starcevich proudly introduced 2017’s draftees to the den and announced 2018’s sponsors.

All eight draftees including Jordan Zanchetta (7) Arianna Clarke (15), Renee Cowan (23), Kalinda Howarth (31), Emma Pittman (37), Ruby Blair (41), Sophie Conway (45) and Jessy Keeffe (48) joined Starcevich, as he announced Hyundai, Bond University, The Coffee Club, Austraffic and Icon Group as the Lions AFLW partners.

Before proceedings began, Starcevich acknowledged and thanked them for their support ahead of the 2018 season.

“I would like to recognise the sponsors who have been on the journey with us all the way through. We are so thrilled to have them on board with us this season,” he said. 

In 2018 Hyundai and Bond University will act as the Women’s Team co-major partners.

Hyundai was the Lions AFLW team’s inaugural Major Partner in 2017 and have continued their support of Women’s Sport after the success of the first year of competition.

Today, Hyundai’s Regional General Manager, Northern Region, Martin Him said,

“We’re looking forward to the 2018 season. We wish the girls well and hope they’ll perform as well as they did last year.”  

Bond University have now joined Hyundai as co-major partner after being the Coaches Partner in 2017.  Bond University will be on the back of the playing jumper for the next 2 years.

Bond’s Executive Director of Sport, Garry Nucifora said the University was extremely proud to take its partnership with the Brisbane Lions women’s team to the next level.

“It seems only fitting that we look to grow and enhance our relationship with the sport by extending our partnership with the Brisbane Lions women’s team in 2018 to that of co-major sponsor for the next two years.

The Lions’ 15th pick at the 2017 AFLW Draft Arianna Clarke was Bond University’s inaugural female recipient of the Riewoldt Family AFL Excellence Scholarship.

The Coffee Club have expanded their support of AFL by becoming the Brisbane Lions Women’s Team Coaches Partner for 2018.  The Coffee Club is already our Men’s Team Coaches Partner and will be looking to support the growth of football talent at the Brisbane Lions for years to come.

Austraffic has continued their support of the women’s team by extending their sponsorship into 2018.  They will remain on the playing and training shorts as well as having a signage presence at the Lions home games.  Martin and Caralyn from Austraffic have long been supporters of AFL in Queensland and continue to contribute to the development of women’s participation.

Epic Pharmacy was thrilled to sponsor the Brisbane Lions AFLW team in their inaugural season, as part of a program to support women in sport. This year we are pleased to announce Icon Group, Epic’s parent company, will be sponsoring the team.  Icon Group is Australia’s largest provider of specialist cancer care, with locations all over regional and metropolitan Australia. Last year’s involvement with Brisbane Lions AFLW was truly Epic, and they're looking forward to an Iconic season in 2018!

The eight new AFLW draftees will commence their first pre-season on Monday November 20th.