As torrential rain and unforgiving wind belted Ikon Park, Carlton forward Mia Austin lined up for a shot at goal.

The three-quarter-siren had just blared, and the Blues already had a dominant 39-point lead over a despairing West Coast in the AFLW elimination final on Saturday afternoon. Statistically speaking, Carlton didn’t need the extra six points, but Austin did.

Her cousin Ben, an aspiring young cricketer, tragically died in a training incident last week. This goal was for him.

Austin ran forward and slotted the ball perfectly through the goal posts. The emotional 21-year-old pointed her hands towards the sky as her teammates ran to embrace her, cupping their hands around her face. She had Ben’s name written on her wrist.

After battling biblical downpours and high winds, Carlton

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