Charlie Rowbottom (born 22 January 2003) is an Australian rules footballer playing for

Gold Coast Gold Coast may refer to: Places Africa * Gold Coast (region), in West Africa, which was made up of the following colonies, before being established as the independent nation of Ghana: ** Portuguese Gold Coast (Portuguese, 1482–1642) ** Dutch G ...

in the

AFL Women's AFL Women's (AFLW) is Australia's national semi-professional Australian rules football in Australia, Australian rules football league for women's Australian rules football, female players. The 2017 AFL Women's season, first season of the league ...

(AFLW).

Early life

Rowbottom grew up in

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

and first played Australian rules football in year eight at Loreto Mandeville Hall. She proceeded to play junior football for the East Malvern Knights of the South Metro Junior Football League, and shortly thereafter accepted a position in the

Oakleigh Chargers The Oakleigh Chargers is an Australian rules football club playing in the NAB League, the top statewide under-18 competition in Victoria, Australia. They are based at Warrawee Park in Oakleigh, Victoria, representing the southeastern suburban ...

girls teams. She is the younger sister of professional men's footballer

James Rowbottom James Rowbottom (born 19 September 2000) is a professional Australian rules footballer who plays for the Sydney Swans in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was recruited by the Sydney Swans with the 25th draft pick in the 2018 AFL draft, 2 ...

, who plays for the Sydney Swans.

Football career

Under the rules of the AFL Women's draft in 2021, Rowbottom was permitted to nominate the state of her choice for selection by an AFLW club. Despite growing up in Victoria, Rowbottom nominated

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , establishe ...

, stating that although it would be "a shift in my life, it is all very exciting". had the first overall pick in the draft, and so selected Rowbottom with the number one pick. She played her debut match in round one of the 2022 season against , and recorded 11 disposals. The following round she was nominated for the AFL Women's Rising Star award, in the Suns' 13-point win against . She missed out on winning the Rising Star award by one vote to Carlton's

Mimi Hill Mimi Hill (born 4 October 2002) is an Australian rules footballer playing for in the AFL Women's (AFLW). She was drafted with the twelfth selection in the 2020 AFL Women's draft by the . Early life Hill played junior football for the Kew Com ...

, though she did win the equivalent award as judged by her peers at the Players Association MVP Awards.

References

External links

Gold Coast Suns profile
* 2003 births Living people Australian rules footballers from Melbourne Gold Coast Football Club (AFLW) players People educated at Loreto Mandeville Hall Oakleigh Chargers players (Talent League Girls) {{AFL-bio-2000s-stub