By Chris McAsey
When the Hong Kong Dragons women’s team powered undefeated through Division 2 at the 2025 AFL Asian Championships, one of their newest recruits was also one of their brightest sparks — despite never having played AFL before.
For Annie Buntine, a rugby union player from Australia’s Mornington Peninsula now living in Hong Kong, playing at the Asian Championships wasn’t about experience – it was all about the energy.
‘It’s mostly just good vibes, to be honest,’ she said, grinning through the tropical heat after another strong showing.
‘We obviously have a lot of talent, but the team is just such a good place to be. Everyone builds each other up, so I feel like that’s carrying us today. We’re having a good time.’
That sense of camaraderie is a hallmark of the Dragons, a club that has built its women’s side into one of the tightest units in Asian footy. And while Annie’s background might be in a different code, her athletic instincts translated seamlessly.
‘I just came in during the rubgy offseason because AFL is a lot about running and kicking, and that’s what I need to work on.’
‘There were a few others who had their first game this morning as well.’
Annie Buntine (2nd from right) was selected in the All Asian team.
If you didn’t know, you wouldn’t have guessed it. Annie seemed to effortlessly glide through traffic gathering touches, before delivering some beautifully weighted passes to the the Dragons’ tall forwards.
‘I’ve got a big AFL family,’ Annie explained. ‘My dad and grandad were pretty good back in the day — but there wasn’t a girls team when I was growing up, so I put everything into netball and rugby.’
‘AFLW started getting bigger as I got closer to the end of high school,’ she said. ‘Then one of my best mates got drafted to play AFLW with the Gold Coast Suns, which was cool.’
‘I’ve got her kit, actually! But I never played until today. It’s so fun.’
Some of her dad and grandad’s skills must have rubbed off, because her kicking style has often been noted on the rugby field.
‘In rugby, I don’t have a very good kick because everyone tells me, “Oh, you kick like an AFL player!”
Annie has spent the past two years in Hong Kong after moving there to play rugby.
‘It’s the top rugby league in Hong Kong — lots of imports, lots of good local talent too,’ she said. ‘It’s not professional, but it’s a good standard.’
And while the Dragons vibe was all about enjoying the ride, Annie still had her eyes on the prize.
‘I feel like the heat and the energy levels could be one of our main threats today,’ she said. ‘But we’re all pretty dead set, determined to play well for the rest of the day.’
It turned out to be something of an understatement.
By the end of the day, the Dragons had won the Cup, and Annie had scooped up a swag of awards: Best Player in the Grand Final, Leading Goalkicker and an All Asian team jumper.
One Asian Championships in, Annie looks right at home.
‘All vibes’ – Annie (middle back row) and team mates after taking out the Div 2 championship.
