Bull, the sister of Sydney Swans listed talent James Bell, will spearhead the Shellharbour Suns inaugural season in the AFL South Coast Women’s competition. 

The launch comes as the competition is set to expand into two divisions this year, after nine clubs featured in the first ever competition last year, won by Bomaderry. 

After months of planning and recruitment by Shellharbour president Andrew Wilton, the committee and new women’s coach John de Souza, Bull is optimistic the Suns can develop into a force.

“There’s a lot of excitement and enthusiasm about it, the girls come from quite a lot of different backgrounds,” Bull said. “We’ve been getting more than 20 players to training and just working hard on the basics and getting everyone familiar with how we’re going to play.

“The big thing for me is creating a real team environment, I think that was one thing I took from my time at the Saints, was having a culture there where everyone wants to play for each other.”

Bull is hoping to have her brother – who was rookie listed by the Swans in November, after playing in the NEAFL last season, including a game at North Dalton Park – along to Myimbarr Oval in the pre-season to pass on some professional advice.

“He’s doing the family proud, it’s great to see a South Coast product make it into the AFL system,” Bull said. “And it shows the opportunities are there, as it is for the AFL Women’s league for girls playing now.”