Lauren Bella

Lauren Bella (born 12 September 2000) is an Australian rules footballer playing for the Gold Coast in the AFL Women's competition (AFLW). She has previously played for Brisbane.

Lauren Bella
Bella with Gold Coast
Personal information
Date of birth (2000-09-12) 12 September 2000
Place of birth Mackay, Queensland
Original team(s) Bond University (QAFLW)
Draft No. 45, 2018 AFL Women's draft
Debut Round 1, 2019, Brisbane vs. Greater Western Sydney, at Moreton Bay Central Sports Complex
Height 188 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Ruck
Club information
Current club Gold Coast
Number 2
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2019 Brisbane 03 (0)
2020– Gold Coast 36 (1)
Total 39 (1)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of the S7 (2022) season.
Source: AustralianFootball.com

Early life

Bella was born in Mackay, Queensland.[1] Her father, Anthony, was a professional rugby league player for the South Queensland Crushers,[2] and her uncle, Martin, also played rugby league professionally, representing Queensland in State of Origin as well as Australia in international competitions.[3] Lauren began playing Australian rules football as a child, but had to stop playing when the local competition no longer allowed girls to compete in mixed teams with boys.[4]

Bella then picked up netball in high school, and excelled so much that she was placed in the 2017/18 Netball Queensland's Elite Development Program.[5] Despite finding success in netball, she returned to play football for Bakers Creek in the local AFL Mackay competition in 2017, and accepted an invitation to join the Gold Coast Suns Academy in 2018. She relocated to the Gold Coast in early 2018 to play club football for Bond University in the QAFLW competition and fulfil her academy commitments with the Suns.[4] The decision paid off when the Brisbane Lions drafted her with the 45th pick in the 2018 AFL Women's draft.[6]

AFLW career

Bella made her debut in the Lions' round-one game against Greater Western Sydney at Moreton Bay Central Sports Complex on 3 February 2019.[7]

In April 2019, Bella joined expansion club Gold Coast.[8] In an interview she disclosed she is legally blind and requires a customised pair of contacts to see.[9]

Bella had a breakout season in 2021, leading the league for hitouts up until the finals, as well as the average for the whole season.

Statistics
Statistics are correct to the end of the 2021 season.[10]
Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks
H/O
 Hit-outs
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game) Votes
G B K H D M T H/O G B K H D M T H/O
2019 Brisbane 323002131506500.00.00.74.35.00.02.016.70
2020 Gold Coast 2700162137610130‡0.00.02.33.05.30.91.418.6§0
2021 Gold Coast 29002632581219190†0.00.02.93.66.41.32.121.1§0
Career 19 0 0 44 66 110 18 35 370 0.0 0.0 2.3 3.5 5.8 0.9 1.8 19.5 0

Honours and achievements

Individual

References
  1. "Mackay deal excites Bella". 19 September 2018.
  2. "AFL Queensland: Youth Girls Squad Named". 23 March 2016.
  3. "AFLW Lions select Lauren Bella with Pick No. 45". 23 October 2018.
  4. "Bond University AFL program allows Lauren Bella to pursue career". 2 July 2018.
  5. "Netball Queensland picks up Mackay talent". 16 May 2017.
  6. "Brisbane Lions AFL Women's Players". Brisbane Lions. Archived from the original on 3 February 2019. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  7. Fielding, Josie (1 February 2019). "AFLW Team: Five Lions set to debut". Brisbane Lions. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  8. Cheadle, Josh (16 April 2019). "Lauren Bella returns home to the SUNS". Gold Coast. Telstra Media. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  9. Cheadle, Josh (20 June 2019). "AFLW Feature: "I'm legally blind" Bella's unique story". Gold Coast. Telstra Media.
  10. "Lauren Bella". Australian Football. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
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