Gold Coast’s three-tall forward line demonstrated their lofty capabilities on Saturday afternoon, monstering an undersized Fremantle Dockers defence in the SUNS’ 24-point win at Metricon Stadium.
Sam Day, Tom Lynch and Peter Wright combined for 11 of the team’s 16 goals and took 25 marks between them, giving SUNS fans a real glimpse of the future.
Day booted his side’s first two goals of the game before going on to kick four for the day to equal his career-high tally, which he achieved twice in 2014.
With leading goalkicker Lynch held relatively quiet for the first three quarters, the South Australia had a breakout game, providing the SUNS with a strong target up forward in a game that was a long time coming.
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“It was exciting. We utilised the ball well going forward and managed to hit us three big boys up forward so all managed to chip in,” Day told BLK RAW post-game.
“It’s a really cyclical kind of thing. I think Lynchy was probably out of it for two and a half quarters and I managed to be the target for a little bit there
“Then we changed over those roles when they put a bit more pressure on one of us so I think that will give teams headaches in the future if we can keep putting the pressure on the ground like we did today.”
Day paid credit to a makeshift midfield that propelled the SUNS to victory, with Touk Miller and Alex Sexton leading an engine room that won clearances (+2), inside 50s (+19) and contested possessions (+15).
“Those boys were super. Scrapped in and under all day and then put the pressure on the Freo boys when they were going the other way,” he said.
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“It’s really good times ahead with those guys to build off that and become a deeper midfield when we get the rest of the guys back.”
With five games remaining in 2016, the SUNS still have plenty left to gain from this year’s campaign and will be looking to record a few more wins on the board before September rolls around.
“We have to build off that now. Like I said, the contested ball and the pressure are a good building block for any game and if we can continue to bring that it doesn’t matter who we’ve got on the park,” Day said.
“Like the midfield boys did today I think we can take it up to any team and snatch a few more wins before the end of the season.”
