Lauren Bella is widely regarded as one of the most dominant ruck talents to emerge from underage football, with the ability to impact games both in the air and at ground level. Her athleticism allows her to play almost as an extra midfielder, giving her teammates a significant advantage around stoppages and in transition.

An elite netballer in her junior years, Lauren faced the difficult decision many young athletes encounter, choosing between two sports as the workload intensified. Ultimately, football won out, and she hasn’t looked back since.

After completing Year 12 in Mackay at the end of 2017, Lauren relocated to the Gold Coast, enrolling at Bond University while continuing to develop her football. Following another outstanding Under 18 carnival for Queensland, she was selected by Brisbane in the 2018 AFLW Draft.

Lauren’s debut AFLW season saw her play three games, however illness limited her opportunities early on. With competition expansion in 2019, Gold Coast successfully lured Lauren to the Suns on a two-year deal, where she quickly established herself as one of the competition’s most promising young rucks.

Under coach Cameron Joyce, Lauren continued to progress, earning selection in the All-Australian squad and finishing Top 5 in Gold Coast’s Best & Fairest in 2022. She followed this with another strong campaign in 2023, playing 11 games and helping the Suns reach finals.

Across the 2024 season, Lauren delivered another dominant year in the ruck for Gold Coast, reinforcing her status as one of the league’s premier bigs. At the conclusion of the 2025 season, Lauren was traded to the Carlton Football Club, embracing a new challenge and the next chapter of her AFLW career.

With her size, work rate and competitive edge, Lauren Bella continues to be a powerful force in the AFLW competition.

Playing Honours:

·         AFLW Academy 2017 & 18

·         Queensland Representative 2017 & 18

·         U/18 All Australian 2017 & 18

·         AFLW Rising Star Nomination 2021