Jacqui Yorston has found the silver lining in the Suns 70 point semi-final loss to Fremantle

Like many of her teammates, Jacqui Yorston left Perth after the Suns’ 70-point semi-finals loss to Fremantle feeling bruised, battered and embarrassed.

LIKE many of her teammates, Jacqui Yorston left Perth after the Suns’ 70-point semi-final loss to Fremantle feeling bruised, battered and embarrassed.

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But more than a month after the remainder of the AFLW season was cancelled without crowning a premier, Yorston believes there is an element of “luck” in the Suns’ sudden exit.

The Suns found out on their flight back to Queensland that the AFLW season had been cancelled, allowing them to reflect and conclude as a group that it was fortunate they didn’t have to suffer the disappointment of their peers.

Gold Coast Suns AFLW player Jacqui Yorston. Picture: Jerad Williams

“As much as you don’t want to lose a semi-final, we’re lucky in that we didn’t have that lingering what if,” Yorston said.

“We got done and it was embarrassing for some of us but we won’t go into next year thinking what if we could have won the premiership.

“I understand the frustration of AFLW clubs and players but for us, if you can call a loss lucky, that’s what I’d call it.”

Jacqui Yorston of the Suns at warmup during the 2020 AFLW Round 06 match between the West Coast Eagles and the Gold Coast Suns at Mineral Resources Park on March 15, 2020 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

The 19-year-old midfielder said she was disappointed to end the season on such a sour note but the loss made her teammates realise the level they had to strive towards to be AFLW contenders.

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“I went back and watched it and it was hard to watch,” Yorston said.

“It wasn’t the footy we wanted to play and we gave up towards the end.

“We’ll look to next year, whatever that looks like whether we might not have the same strong list we have but I’m working on getting myself mentally and physically stronger.

“They were unstoppable in the way they went about it.

“There were points during the game you stand there and think wow, how did they do that.”