AFLW pupil Rowbottom impresses Suns coach

Her talent is well known but it's Charlie Rowbottom's willingness to learn and build on that natural ability which has impressed Gold Coast coach Cameron Joyce the most.

The No.1 draft pick was best on ground in just her seventh AFLW appearance as the Suns and Western Bulldogs played out a 41-all draw at Metricon Stadium on Tuesday.

Rowbottom picked up a career-best 24 disposals and kicked the first goal of her career in a display that deserved to be part of a winning effort.

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Sadly for Rowbottom and her teammates, they gave up a four-goal advantage at three-quarter time as the Bulldogs came home with a wet sail to force a share of the spoils.

The 19-year-old's display however was a shining light for Joyce as the eighth-placed Suns look to keep their finals hopes alive when they face St Kilda on Sunday.

"She's a real student of the game. She wants to keep getting better," Joyce told AAP.

"She's always doing extras. She's watching vision - her own vision and oppositions. She's asking questions.

"For a 19-year-old, who's obviously talented, we know, but doing those things - the extra recovery, all that sort of thing - it's been great to watch her progression so far.

"It was great that she got got some reward (on Tuesday)."

Having lost to Brisbane last Thursday and failed to hold on for a win against the Bulldogs, the Suns' hopes of second finals appearance in three seasons are hanging by a thread.

A win over the last-placed Saints is a must to keep in touch with the top six, especially with the Bulldogs and sixth-placed Collingwood facing each other on the same day.

"We've got a four or five-day turnaround into the Saints in Melbourne on Sunday and that's what we're