Gold Coast have pulled off one among their most interesting wins of the AFL season, beating a fast-finishing Western Bulldogs by seven factors to kick-start their push for a debut finals berth.
Jack Lukosius booted 5 objectives, together with 4 within the second quarter, whereas Matt Rowell delivered an imperious midfield efficiency to safe a 13.6 (84) to 11.11 (77) victory at TIO Stadium.
Gold Coast, aiming to make their first finals collection of their thirteenth season, improved their report to 5-6 whereas the wasteful Bulldogs (7-4) spurned an opportunity to leap into the highest 4.
The victory was well timed for coach Stuart Dew, who stood up for himself this week as not too long ago departed Richmond mentor Damien Hardwick was linked to his job.
“We feel we’ve been close to ticking one of these games off against a top-quality side,” Dew mentioned.
“The best part is they came out really hard, kicked the first three and decision time for our lads and they just kept at it, adjusted the game a little bit, took the feedback that was giving them, fought their way back
“Then even once more within the final quarter, capable of regular and we have got some mad rivals that simply needed to win.
“I’m rapt for the lads to be honest, just to have that winning feeling, I feel like they deserved that one.”
The Suns held their nerve late because the Bulldogs, with the assistance of two contentious umpiring choices, surged.
A controversial 50-metre penalty in opposition to Ben Ainsworth, who was dominated to have stepped over the mark regardless of stopping, gifted Bailey Williams a objective.
Ben Long was then penalised for catching Cody Weightman excessive off the ball, when the ahead appeared to attract the contact.
Weightman drew the Bulldogs inside a objective.
But Suns teenager Bailey Humphrey pounced on a Lukosius tried mark and dribbled by means of a superb objective to ice the sport.
Aaron Naughton appeared to have kicked a dramatic late objective however the rating evaluation confirmed his snap had simply clipped the objective submit.
Rowell racked up 29 disposals, 16 clearances, eight rating involvements and 702 metres gained and a objective, supported by Noah Anderson (26 touches) whereas Lukosius’ second-quarter haul turned the sport Gold Coast’s means.
Charlie Ballard (11 intercept possessions) and Sam Collins intercepted at will for the Suns whereas the Bulldogs’ in-form defensive recruit Liam Jones (13 intercepts, seven marks) was very good.
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (three objectives) constantly threatened to interrupt the sport open whereas Marcus Bontempelli (28) did not cease working.
“Their (Gold Coast’s) intensity and pressure and tackling game and some of the things they did around the source was very good and we probably didn’t deal with that as well as we have been,” coach Luke Beveridge mentioned.
“So just another reminder to us we’ve got to continually be on guard for the opposition’s best and you’ve got to make the most of your chances and we didn’t tonight.”
The Suns subsequent face Adelaide, additionally in Darwin, whereas the Bulldogs tackle Geelong.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
