One of Touch Football’s brightest young stars is officially bound for the AFLW, with Canberra’s Lily Quigley selected by the Gold Coast Suns as the club’s first pick in last week’s AFLW Pre-Season Draft.
Her draft selection marks an incredible milestone for the talented cross-code athlete, whose sporting journey first began on the Touch Football field.
Lily has long been recognised as one of Canberra’s most exciting junior talents, representing the ACT at School Sport Nationals for the first time at just eleven years old. From there, she continued to rise through the representative pathway, earning the encouragement award at School Sport Nationals at the age of fourteen and impressing at NSW Junior Regionals to gain selection in NSW Merit teams.
She continued to showcase her Touch Football talents at the DoorDash National Youth Championships, where she played alongside her sister Zoe for the ACT Raiders. Most recently, Lily helped guide the Raiders to the Alliance 18s Girls Grand Final title in 2025 and subsequently selection in the inaugural 18s Girls Alliance Merit Team.
WATCH: Quigley sisters speak at the 2025 DoorDash National Youth Championships
She has since continued her rise on the national stage, continuing to represent the ACT Raiders at The Championships in 2026, now for the Women’s Open division, and earning selection in the Women’s Open Alliance Merit Team.
Lily made her international debut for the Athelite Australian Emus at the 2025 Asia Pacific Youth Touch Cup, as she progressed through the Touch Football high-performance pathway. She walked away with a Gold Medal in the Girls 18s division, before being welcomed into the National Female Squad for this year’s Asia Pacific Opens Touch Cup, continuing her development and earmarking her for future representation in the sport’s elite level.
Touch Football Australia (TFA) spoke to Lily about her AFLW draft selection and her journey through Touch Football:
TFA: How did you feel when you found out you were selected by the Gold Coast Suns? And as their first pick!
Lily: It was honestly so surreal. It didn’t feel real at first, and I still don’t think it’s fully sunk in yet. It was such a special moment for my family and me, and I’m so excited by the opportunity.
TFA: What impact did Touch Football have on preparing you for playing AFL and elite sport?
Lily: Touch Footy has been so good for building my speed, endurance, and agility. These are all so important in playing AFL, and I wouldn’t have this opportunity without my experience playing Touch.
TFA: What advice would you give young Touch players who will now be looking up to you, hoping to follow in your footsteps?
Lily: Keep following your dreams because if you want something enough, you’ll work hard for it. Everyone’s journey is different, so don’t compare yourself to others. Just keep working hard and let your success make the noise!
TFA congratulates Lily on her incredible achievement and wishes her all the best as she begins her new chapter with the Gold Coast Suns in the upcoming AFLW season.
