{"id":270639,"date":"2025-11-08T08:34:09","date_gmt":"2025-11-08T08:34:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/270639\/"},"modified":"2025-11-08T08:34:09","modified_gmt":"2025-11-08T08:34:09","slug":"carlton-beats-west-coast-by-41-points-in-aflw-elimination-final-at-princes-park","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/270639\/","title":{"rendered":"Carlton beats West Coast by 41 points in AFLW elimination final at Princes Park"},"content":{"rendered":"

Star rookie Sophie McKay’s scintillating third-quarter burst has powered Carlton to a commanding 41-point AFLW elimination final win over West Coast.<\/p>\n

In wet and cold conditions at Princes Park on Saturday, the Blues led for the duration to prevail 9.6 (60) to 2.7 (19) in their first finals appearance since 2020.<\/p>\n

Leading by just seven points at half-time, Carlton slammed through four goals in the first 10 minutes of the third term to stun the Eagles, who were in the club’s first AFLW final.<\/p>\n

Mia Austin topped off a perfect term, kicking Carlton’s sixth goal after the three-quarter-time siren.<\/p>\n

The 21-year-old was mobbed by teammates after the goal and became emotional.<\/p>\n

Austin has been dealing with the pain of losing her young cousin Ben, who tragically died after being struck by a ball at his local cricket club last week.<\/p>\n

Austin kissed a wristband marked “Ben” that she had been wearing since the death of her cousin.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Mia Austin kissed a wristband with her late cousin Ben’s name on it in an emotional tribute after she kicked a goal in Carlton’s win over West Coast.<\/p>\n

\u00a0 (Getty Images: AFL Photos\/Michael Willson)<\/p>\n

The Carlton forward did not travel with Carlton to Perth when the Blues ended the home-and-away season last Friday night with a win over the Eagles.<\/p>\n

Ben Austin tributes<\/a><\/p>\n

Cricketers at the highest levels of the sport have paid tribute to 17-year-old Ben Austin who died on Thursday after being struck by a ball at a training session.<\/p>\n

After the game, Austin spoke briefly to Fox Footy.<\/p>\n

“Early last week, my little cousin Ben, he passed away, unfortunately in a cricket incident,” she said in a post-match interview.<\/p>\n

“My family is here, my uncle is here, my cousins are here today, so to honour him.<\/p>\n

“I know if he were here, he would absolutely love it. So, [the celebration was] a little tribute to him.”<\/p>\n

McKay, the younger sister of Carlton captain Abbie and the daughter of club great Andrew, booted two of the third-quarter goals to inject serious energy into the Blues’ team.<\/p>\n

A contender for the AFLW Rising Star, the 19-year-old celebrated in style after slotting her important goals.<\/p>\n

\"One<\/p>\n

Sophie McKay (right) kicked two of Carlton’s six third-quarter goals as the Blues earned a thumping AFLW elimination final win over West Coast in the rain. (Getty Images: AFL Photos\/Michael Willson)<\/p>\n

Fellow Blues young gun Poppy Scholz got in on the act, booting Carlton’s fifth goal of the third quarter.<\/p>\n

Irishwoman Erone Fitzpatrick got Carlton going, producing a classy finish on the run, and went to the main break as the game’s leading disposal winner with 14.<\/p>\n

West Coast failed to score in the first quarter, but hit back hard in the second term, mainly thanks to young superstar Ella Roberts.<\/p>\n

Do you have a story idea about women in sport?<\/p>\n

Email us abcsport5050@your.abc.net.au<\/a><\/p>\n

The midfielder pounced on a loose ball, effortlessly snapping through the Eagles’ first goal.<\/p>\n

But it was all Carlton from there as Dayna Finn and Fitzpatrick joined Sophie McKay in being a multiple goal-kicker.<\/p>\n

Lucia Painter, who appeared to have badly hurt her knee in the first quarter, kicked West Coast’s second goal of the match during the last quarter.<\/p>\n

West Coast farewelled dual All-Australian Dana Hooker, who retires from the AFLW after 67 games.<\/p>\n

The Blues will meet injury-hit Hawthorn next week in a semi-final.<\/p>\n

After going goal-less in their qualifying final against rampaging North Melbourne on Friday night, the Hawks will need to recover while dealing with a host of injuries to key players.<\/p>\n

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