AFLW 2026: Young Gold Coast forward Alannah Welsh kicks five goals as Suns belt West Coast Eagles

Alannah Welsh has emerged as a rising star of the AFLW at the expense of West Coast, booting five goals in only her second game to lead Gold Coast to a massive 35-point victory.

The Suns headed west with nine second-gamers but looked the calmer, composed and more polished of the two sides, comprehensively beating the Eagles 10.9 (69) to 5.4 (34) at Mineral Resources Park on Saturday.

Welsh was one of several youngsters to show up a West Coast outfit carrying plenty of expectations after coming off a maiden finals campaign.

Sunny Lappen (11 disposals and a goal), Lily Quigley (11 disposals and a goal) and Ava Usher (two goals and 12 disposals) all kicked their first majors at the level in the first half alongside Welsh, showcasing a bright future for the Suns.

Gold Coast came over with a plan to run and stun the Eagles, who simply had no answers for their pace on the ball as well as pressure which suffocated the home side’s ball movement.

The Eagles lost co-captain Charlie Thomas before the game because of illness, with Sarah Lakay coming into the team as a late inclusion.

Gold Coast got the perfect start when draftee Usher kicked her first goal at the level following a horror turnover in defence from the Eagles.

Welsh ensured the celebrations continued when she joined Usher early in the party, with the Suns winning the next centre clearance and Roxy Roux losing touch on the second gamer, who dribbled the ball between the big sticks.

West Coast finally settled when Amy Franklin (three goals) was awarded a free kick for holding the ball at the top of the goalsquare, finally getting some reward for their efforts.

But the Eagles were still struggling to stop the pace on the ball from the visitors and when Welsh slotted her second just before the first break an upset was well and truly on the cards.

The flood gates opened in the second term as the plucky young Suns built on their excellent first term booting four unanswered goals in 15 minutes to take complete control.

West Coast finally hit back just before the main break through Keeley Skepper but they were down by 33 points and looking nowhere near good enough to close the gap.

Roux and star Ella Roberts (24 disposals and seven clearances) spent time up forward after half-time to try to get some life into the Eagles’ attack, but it was up the other end of the ground where they struggled the most.

Usher added her second to really shut the door on any hope of a comeback for the Eagles early in the third quarter.