AFLW Star Mia Austin Pays Tribute to Late Cousin Ben Austin
Emotions ran high as Carlton forward Mia Austin was surrounded by teammates after scoring a goal in the Blues’ dominant victory over West Coast on Saturday. The 41-point win advanced the team to the semi-finals, yet the standout moment came at the three-quarter time siren when Austin honored her late cousin, Ben.
Austin, who had missed the previous match against West Coast, took a strong mark and calmly converted before being embraced by every teammate on the field. Overwhelmed by emotion, she was seen wiping tears as she paid tribute to 17-year-old Ben Austin, who tragically passed away last week after being struck by a cricket ball during warm-ups for a T20 match.
“Your heart breaks with this vision, doesn’t it?” said Abbey Holmes on Channel 7. “You can see how much this means to Mia Austin ... just the teammates, it gives me goosebumps looking at that moment, the love and support there is incredible.”
Alister Nicholson added: “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.”
Emotional Moment Resonates Beyond the Game
The match will likely be remembered not only for Carlton’s commanding win but for Mia Austin’s heartfelt gesture that brought an entire stadium together in grief and solidarity.
Author’s Summary
Mia Austin’s touching tribute to her late cousin Ben during Carlton’s semifinal victory moved players and fans alike, embodying the emotional strength behind sport.