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AFLW round-up: McLaughlin and Fitzpatrick can’t prevent Suns falling to defeat to Carlton

Mackin shines despite Melbourne’s inconsistency while Lauren McConville must wait for her AFLW debut

Dayna Finn of the Blues is tackled by Clara Fitzpatrick of the Suns during the 2024 AFLW Round 02 match between the Gold Coast SUNS and the Carlton Blues at Great Barrier Reef Arena on September 08, 2024 in Mackay, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Dayna Finn of the Blues is tackled by Clara Fitzpatrick of the Suns during the 2024 AFLW Round 02 match between the Gold Coast SUNS and the Carlton Blues at Great Barrier Reef Arena on September 08, 2024 in Mackay, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images) (Michael Willson/AFL Photos)
By AHMER KHOKHAR

It’s too early in the AFLW season to use the word ‘crisis’ but already after just two rounds, the Gold Coast Suns finals prospects are starting to falter after they lost 38-39 to Carlton today at Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay.

Trailing by four points with less than two minutes remaining, Carlton’s Maddy Guerin kicked the winner to rub salt into the Suns wounds.

Former Donegal skipper Niamh McLaughlin collected 15 disposals (11 kicks & 4 handballs), 1 mark, and 4 tackles in midfield.

Down defender Clara Fitzpatrick notched 8 disposals (3 kicks & 5 handballs) and 5 tackles.

Armagh vice-captain Lauren McConville was agonisingly close to making her AFLW debut for the Suns after initially being named on the interchange bench, but when the team was finalised, she was downgraded to an emergency player.

On Saturday morning, Shane O’Neill’s and Armagh footballer Blaithin Mackin and Dublin’s Sinead Goldrick were both named among Melbourne’s best players for the second consecutive week.

Inconsistency cost the Demons a Grand Final berth last year and the same imposter reared its ugly head when they lost 15-33 at home to reigning premiers, the Brisbane Lions, at Casey Fields.

GEELONG, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 31: Blaithin Mackin of the Demons runs with the ball under pressure from Zali Friswell of the Cats during the round one AFLW match between Geelong Cats and Melbourne Demons at GMHBA Stadium, on August 31, 2024, in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
Blaithín Mackin was among Melbourne's best players in their defeat to Brisbane at the weekend (Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

The younger Mackin sister finished with 19 disposals (14 kicks & 5 handballs), 5 marks, 3 tackles, and gained 536 metres which was second only to Brisbane’s Ally Anderson, who collected a league record of 43 disposals.

On Sunday, Donegal’s Tanya Kennedy was on the Sydney Swans team who lost 42-26 away to Saint Kilda at RSEA Park in Melbourne.

The Robert Emmet’s clubwoman finished with 18 disposals (11 kicks & 7 handballs), 1 mark, and 8 tackles.

The Swans who shocked AFLW last year by reaching finals for the first time will have to manage their season without superstar co-captain Chloe Molloy who broke down with an anterior cruciate ligament injury on a horror afternoon.

Also on Sunday, Forkhill woman Amy Mulholland was in action for the Fremantle Dockers who lost 6-39 at home to The Adelaide Crows at Fremantle Oval in Perth and remarkably failed to kick a single goal throughout the four quarters.

Mulholland tallied 5 disposals (4 kicks & 1 handball), 1 mark, and three tackles in the Dockers forward line.

Donegal’s Amy Boyle-Carr joined Adelaide in the off-season but has not been named in their squad for the opening two rounds of the season.