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AAP
AAP
Sport
Oliver Caffrey

Suns bounce back, defeat St Kilda in AFLW

Charlie Rowbottom (c) recovered from the QClash defeat to kick three goals in the win over St Kilda. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

Gold Coast have bounced back from a QClash humiliation by producing a confidence-boosting 14-point AFLW victory over St Kilda in Mackay.

The Suns suffered a 73-point belting at the hands of Queensland rivals Brisbane last week but showed no mental scars of that defeat on Saturday.

Led by No.1 draft pick Charlie Rowbottom, the Suns produced a matchwinning third quarter by kicking three goals and keeping the Saints scoreless.

St Kilda finished with a strong breeze in the last quarter, but Gold Coast were able to hang on 5.12 (42) to 4.4 (28) for their second win of the season.

Rowbottom, the sister of Sydney Swans men's midfielder James Rowbottom, put in the type of performance that had her picked first in the 2021 draft.

She collected a game-high 30 touches, six clearances and laid eight tackles.

The lively Kalinda Howarth was also important, booting Gold Coast's first goal to finish with two majors and 22 possessions.

Howarth, who is of Indigenous descent, celebrated her first goal with a special dance as the Suns wore their First Nations jumper.

"I'm just happy to do what's best for the team," Howarth told Fox Footy.

"I speak with 'Joycey' (Suns coach Cameron Joyce) through the week and I guess if he sees it's the best fit for the team I go forward, I do that.

"But if we need me to go loose at the back, I'm happy to do that as well.

"I like playing anywhere, I'm just happy to play footy, I had last week off so it's good to be back."

St Kilda star Georgia Patrikios, who sat out last season after refusing to comply with the league's vaccination policy, was well held in a win for the Suns.

Bianca Jakobsson was the Saints' leading ball-winner with 19 possessions, while key forward Caitlin Greiser slotted two goals to be St Kilda's only multiple goal-kicker.

St Kilda won their opening two games of the season, but the defeat to the Suns was their second-straight loss after going down to premiership fancies Melbourne last week.

The Saints meet Geelong in round five while Gold Coast will start favourites against expansion club Port Adelaide next weekend.

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