AFLW star pays tribute to late cousin Ben Austin: ‘Hearts break’

Emotions poured out as Carlton forward Mia Austin was surrounded by teammates after scoring a goal in the Blues’ dominant win over West Coast on Saturday. Her emotional tribute honored her late cousin, Ben Austin, who tragically passed away just a week earlier.

A moment of deep emotion

The Blues defeated the Eagles by 41 points to advance to the semi-finals, but the defining memory of the match came at the three-quarter time siren with Austin’s goal. She had missed the previous week’s game but returned with impact, taking a strong mark and kicking cleanly.

As soon as the ball sailed through, Austin was embraced by her teammates. Overcome with emotion, she shed tears in memory of Ben, who died at 17 after being struck by a cricket ball during a T20 warm-up.

Reactions and tributes

“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… the support and love around her give me goosebumps.”

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.”

Legacy of support and strength

The AFLW community and fans have shown widespread sympathy for the Austin family, touched by the visible grief and resilience Mia displayed on the field. Her tribute became a powerful reminder of unity through sport in the face of loss.

Author’s summary: Mia Austin’s heartfelt goal celebration in Carlton’s win became a moving tribute to her late cousin Ben, symbolizing shared grief and the strength of sporting solidarity.

7NEWS Australia — 2025-11-07