GOLD Coast Academy product Dekota Baron has earned the Telstra AFLW Rising Star nomination for round seven after her three-goal outing against St Kilda on Sunday afternoon.

Baron took her chances when they presented, with her first goal the firestarter the Suns needed to begin the third quarter, and her last the punctuation mark on a magnificent second half from Gold Coast as it blazed away to a 30-point win.

The 19-year-old finished the match with 11 touches, seven score involvements and four marks to go with her three-goal bag.

After an injury-plagued draft year, Baron has an added element of excitement to the Suns' young list with her strong natural leap and raw athleticism on show in her first year with the club.

The Suns matched a bid on the key forward at pick No.15 in last year's draft, where they landed a total of eight Academy players in an incredible draft haul. 

Baron is the second Suns player to earn a Rising Star nomination this season, following on from Alannah Welsh in round two.

Sunday's win was Gold Coast's fifth of the season - and fourth in a row - with the Suns sitting in fifth spot on the ladder.

They have the chance to make it five in a row when they face an out-of-sorts Brisbane in Saturday's QClash.

2026 Telstra AFLW Rising Star nominees

Round one: Sierra Grieves (Richmond)
Round two: Alannah Welsh (Gold Coast)
Round three: Lauren Young (Port Adelaide)
Round four: Jordyn Allen (Melbourne)
Round five: Jade McLay (St Kilda)
Round six: Olivia Wolmarans (Richmond)
Round seven: Dekota Baron (Gold Coast)