AFLW Star Mia Austin Honors Late Cousin Ben Austin
Emotions ran high as Carlton forward Mia Austin celebrated a goal with heartfelt tribute to her late cousin Ben Austin during the Blues’ significant win over West Coast on Saturday.
Game Highlights and Emotional Moment
The Blues secured a comfortable 41-point victory against the Eagles, advancing to the semi-finals. The defining moment of the match came when Austin scored a goal just as the three-quarter time siren sounded.
Austin, who had missed the previous week’s game against West Coast, took a strong mark and kicked accurately, immediately followed by a warm celebration with her teammates. During this celebration, Austin was visibly emotional and shed tears in memory of Ben.
Tributes to Ben Austin
“Your heart breaks with this vision doesn’t it?” — Abbey Holmes, Channel 7
“You can see how much this means to Mia Austin ... just the teammates, it gives me goosebumps looking at that vision, just the love and support that has been shown there.” — Abbey Holmes, Channel 7
Alister Nicholson reflected on the moment’s significance:
“A moment of great poignancy on the three-quarter time siren. It has been such a challenging time for the Austin family following the tragic passing of young Ben in the cricket training accident.”
Background on Ben Austin’s Passing
Ben Austin, aged 17, tragically died last week after being struck by a cricket ball while warming up for a T20 match, deeply affecting his family and community.
Summary
Mia Austin’s heartfelt goal celebration amid Carlton’s big win highlights the strong emotional bond between teammates and the impact of personal loss within sports.