Gold Coast's tall forwards had a big day out at Metricon Stadium on Saturday to lead the Suns to a 24-point win over Fremantle.
Despite missing their six best midfielders through injury, the SUNS overturned an eight-point half-time deficit to overrun the Dockers and win 16.9 (105) to 12.9 (81).
On a hot and windy Gold Coast afternoon, they kicked eight goals to three in the second half to storm to their sixth victory of the season.
The tall trio of Sam Day (four goals), Tom Lynch (four) and Peter Wright (three) combined for 11 of Gold Coast's 16 goals.They also took 25 marks between them.
For Day it was a breakout game and an equal career-high, and although Lynch was beaten by Zac Dawson for much of the day, his relentless workrate was rewarded with some telling fourth quarter goals.
Lynch also gave off three goal assists.
Minus Gary Ablett, Dion Prestia, Michael Rischitelli – all in for season-ending surgery – and Aaron Hall, David Swallow and Jaeger O'Meara, the SUNS were dealt another blow with the late withdrawal of the experienced Matt Rosa (hamstring).
Stand-in skipper Steven May was the best man on the ground, stemming many Dockers attacks, but it was the makeshift midfield that deserves the plaudits.
Touk Miller (28 touches, seven clearances and seven tackles) – suddenly pitched in as the SUNS' main man in the middle – worked tirelessly, while Alex Sexton (25 touches) set a strong tone with his aggressive tackling and excellent clearance work.
Jarrad Grant (two goals, 15 disposals and two goal assists) also had his best game in SUNS colours.
Gold Coast's game plan was obvious – get it long to the big guys and let them go to work. It worked.
Fremantle had its chances, but turned the ball over too often.
Lachie Neale was immense with a career-high 43 disposals, while Michael Walters (four goals) was brilliant in the first half before drifting out of the game.
Missing a plethora of their own stars, including Nat Fyfe, Aaron Sandilands, Hayden Ballantyne and the rested Matthew Pavlich, the Dockers ran out of legs.
Coach Ross Lyon was so frustrated he headed to the bench late in the third quarter to give his players and spray and coach from the boundary line.
GOLD COAST 5.2 8.3 12.7 16.9 (105)
FREMANTLE 3.0 9.5 10.6 12.9 (81)
GOALS
Gold Coast: May 4, Lynch 4, Wright 3, Grant 2, Matera, Sexton, Martin
Fremantle: Walters 4, Langdon 2, Yarran 2, Taberner, Pearce, Neale, Griffin
BEST
Gold Coast: May, Sexton, Day, Miller, Grant, Harbrow
Fremantle: Neale, Walters, Pearce, Collins, Spurr, Dawson
INJURIES
Gold Coast: Rosa (hamstring, replaced in selected side by Tape)
Fremantle: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Stephens, Edwards, Jeffery
Official crowd: 8,933 at Metricon Stadium
