The Gold Coast Suns initially thought they hadn’t made finals before finding out they indeed had, here’s how it unfolded

It will possibly go down as the most memorable Wednesday night of Fiona McLarty’s life.

IT will possibly go down as the most memorable Wednesday night of Fiona McLarty’s life.

Like players, coaches and club staff alike, the Suns head of women’s football nervously tuned in to watch AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan announce the fate of their AFLW season.

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Confusion, panic and disappointment were suddenly replaced by pure joy and elation as the AFL clarified that the AFLW would bypass the remaining two rounds due to coronavirus concerns and progress straight to finals, with the top four sides from each conference to qualify.

Gold Coast Suns head of women's football Fiona McLarty. Picture: GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY

Rumours initially swirled online that only the top two sides from each conference would proceed; Suns captain Sam Virgo even responding to a punter on Twitter that four teams would be the go.

But when official confirmation finally arrived, the magnitude of the club’s achievement began to sink it.

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“We didn’t know what was going to happen,” McLarty said.

“There was something on social media a few of the girls saw but it wasn’t correct so we told them that we don’t know what’s going to happen and we needed to wait until we got the facts.

“The playing group was so excited.

“We have a WhatsApp group and the girls were all sending through photos of themselves and messages but then it was very quickly shifting our mindset to we have a job to do this weekend.

“I spoke to Lakey (coach David Lake) earlier in the day and we were trying not to speculate but it was fantastic to get to talk to him on the phone after it was confirmed because we’ve been on a huge journey the past year.

“We wanted to control what we could control and until we knew differently, we were still preparing to play Adelaide at home this weekend.”

Inaugural Gold Coast Suns AFLW senior coach David Lake with women's football manager Fiona McLarty. Picture: Supplied.

For McLarty, the only disappointing aspect of the announcement is that the Suns won’t get the chance to play in front of home fans this weekend, instead heading west for the second weekend in a row to play the undefeated Fremantle Dockers tomorrow (12.40pm) for the chance to keep their finals dream alive.

“We’ll play whoever, anywhere at any time,” McLarty said.

“We don’t know what we’re capable of yet.”

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McLarty, whose phone has been blowing up with messages of support and congratulations since receiving confirmation, is still trying to come to terms with the fact her side will make Suns’ history after she was the first AFLW staff member employed by the club just over a year ago.

“It hasn’t sunk in yet what we’ve actually achieved,” she said.

“If you had of said to me in Round 1 that we would be playing finals, I would’ve been so happy.”