Gold Coast have been thumped by 78 factors by an excellent Collingwood in a large hit for the Suns’ finals credentials.
An afternoon stuffed with promise rapidly grew to become a black-and-white nightmare for Suns coach Stuart Dew in an 18.12 (120) to 5-12 (42) Magpies win at a packed Heritage Bank Stadium.
There was a sea of black and white within the 22,483-strong Gold Coast crowd – the membership’s third-biggest dwelling attendance – and so they weren’t disillusioned because the ladder leaders hit high gear on Saturday.
Unrelenting defensive stress rapidly advised and the Magpies’ lightning-fast ball motion, significantly via the hall, continued to catch the Suns napping.
Four straight Suns targets within the third time period saved some blushes when the Magpies’ lead had bloated to 84 factors, however the hosts have been goalless within the remaining quarter.
Jamie Elliott (5 targets) stuffed his boots whereas Nick Daicos (36 disposals, 10 tackles, eight clearances, one purpose) did as he happy and John Noble (30 touches, one purpose) confirmed why the Magpies are reportedly eager to increase his contract.
The Suns (7-8) might have entered the highest eight with a win and had set themselves to make a press release after thumping Hawthorn at dwelling final week.
But they have been immediately off the tempo; dropping chest marks, kicking out on the total and accused of ball-watching because the Magpies lower them to bits.
The Suns’ proportion took an enormous hit – pricey within the busy race to make the highest eight – and there’s no respite with their subsequent recreation in opposition to second-placed Port Adelaide on the highway.
Daicos was at his inventive greatest within the midfield and Darcy Moore managed the air every time the Suns fruitlessly bombed the ball ahead.
The indicators have been there early when Elliot artfully knocked the ball again from the purpose, ran across the submit after which bought his boot to it earlier than it crossed the road.
He kicked one other from a full-field sequence that caught the Suns off guard and he had 4 earlier than Hewago Oea kicked the host’s first late within the half.
Any designs Gold Coast had on stemming the circulation earlier than the break have been snickered at by the rampant Magpies, who moved to 13-2.
First Sam Collins and Brandon Ellis took one another out and Daicos obliged with a purpose, whereas Bobby Hill completed one other scything full-field motion.
Patrick Lipinski then ran off the again of a stoppage to snap a purpose and make it a 62-point recreation on the primary break.
Noble dummied and kicked actually from 50m to proceed the rot within the third quarter.
Delisted Sun Oleg Markov then drilled a purpose from outdoors 50m in opposition to his former staff earlier than they lastly took their foot off the throttle.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
