Suns rise to eclipse Swans for first win of AFLW season

A late Jacqueline Dupuy goal has launched Gold Coast to a four-point win over Sydney for their first AFLW victory of the year.

Dupuy slotted the match-winner with a minute left on the clock to clinch the 7.8 (50) to 6.10 (46) result at Henson Park on Saturday.

It is Gold Coast's first win of the season after seven losses and a draw, and lifts them off the bottom of the ladder, at least temporarily.

"We've been chasing and chasing a win," Suns coach Cam Joyce said.

"We wouldn't do it any other way at the minute.

"We've been in now six out of eight games within a couple of kicks (of the win).

"It's been that season where it's been really close and really even, but I'm super proud of how the group's really stuck out this year and stayed together."

In contrast, injury-ravaged Sydney's already slim finals aspirations end with a 2-6 record and two rounds to go.

The 15th-placed Swans were looking to make back-to-back finals but struggled to compete after losing stars Chloe Molloy (knee), Ally Morphett (foot) and Laura Gardiner (hand) to long-term injuries.

"(The four-point margin) actually makes it harder to take because you know that you're that close," Swans coach Scott Gowans said.

"Credit to Gold Coast, they won the territory battle in the last quarter and showed a little bit of composure.

"The other thing was their grit. Their will to win the game was there in the last quarter and our girls just couldn't go with them."

Claudia Whitfort was the main star for the Suns in her 50th game, returning from concussion to finish with one goal, 22 disposals and 10 clearances.

Tara Bohanna kicked two goals to set up an early Suns ascendancy, but the Swans rallied to reduce the margin to two points at quarter-time.

Alexia Hamilton was left lamenting a missed opportunity to send the hosts ahead after earning a free kick in front of goal in the second term.

Hamilton sent her set shot wide for a behind, before an ill-disciplined Lucy Single gave away another free kick.

But Hamilton again sent the ball wide to level the scores at 3.3 (21), before fullback Meara Girvan popped up forward to send the visitors ahead again by six points.

The Swans dominated possession in the third quarter but could not find scoreboard reward, kicking four behinds to trail by six points at the final change.

Suns forward Taya Oliver kicked the only goal of the third term, before the Swans mounted a late challenge in the final quarter.

Lucy McEvoy and Rebecca Privitelli sent the ball between the big sticks to give the Suns a fourth-quarter scare, but Dupuy saved the day.