AFLW All-Australian Kate McCarthy has called for players to "upskill" their knowledge, after Gold Coast missed opportunities to gain an advantage from the rules.

In the round four match between the Suns and Port Adelaide, McCarthy pinpointed two instances in the final quarter where players failed to either appeal for a rightful free kick or capitalise on their opposition's near-clanger and set up further scoring opportunities.

"We're getting to the point now where we are almost full-time as a program in AFLW, where players have access to the club and have access to the coaches a lot more time than they previously did and I think there's, at times, a lack of genuine knowledge of the rules of the game," McCarthy said on AFL.com.au's The Wrap.

"There were a couple of instances of this late, which again could have led to more scoring. 

"This is a handball backwards by Charlie Rowbottom (then) Ebony O'Dea has fisted that out of bounds. You cannot do that deliberately unless it's a marking contest, that should be a free kick. There is not one Gold Coast Suns player arguing that's a deliberate out of bounds. If you know the rules you do that." 

The windy conditions at Alberton Oval made scoring challenging for the two sides with Gold Coast narrowly holding on for a 2.5 (17) to 1.8 (14) win.

With just over three minutes left on the clock, the ball was kicked off the boot of a Port Adelaide player and nearly bounced out of bounds. 

Instead of letting the ball fall over the line, triggering the last-disposal rule, the ball was scooped back up into play and immediately resulted in a free kick against the Suns, wasting their opportunity to bring it forward. 

"This one here, (you) simply must usher the ball over the line," McCarthy said. 

"Yes, you can't make it look like you're making no genuine attempt at it, but if you let that ball trickle over the line, you get a free kick, (and) you're going back inside forward 50. 

"It's knowing, 'How can I manipulate the rules to best suit my team?' Instead (she) picks up the footy, gives off a handball and it's a holding the ball against free kick so Port Adelaide then has the opportunity to go down the other end." 

McCarthy also said this is somewhat of a League-wide problem, where players aren't as versed in the rules of the game. 

"I think we're in a point now where AFLW players, and we're seeing it in the men's competition as well, they're not watching as much football, they're not football fans from young ages that are absorbed in the game like you and I are," McCarthy said. 

"But it's your job, it's your job. You need to know the rules of your job, and you need to do that in a way that can help you perform best and your team perform best. I think all players need to upskill a little bit in that area to continue to grow the game."