The Gold Coast SUNS reserves will play in their first NEAFL finals series since 2012 after overcoming Aspley by four points in a thrilling contest on Saturday afternoon at Graham Road.

The SUNS went into the game as big underdogs against last year’s runners-up, with just eight AFL-listed players on Gold Coast’s team sheet.

However Stephen Daniel’s 22 were able to get the job done, holding on to record a 18.7 (115) to 16.15 (111) victory.

The visitors started the game in perfect fashion, booting the first four goals of the game to open an early lead. But as you would expect, the Hornets hit back with four consecutive goals of their own to take an early second quarter lead.

With David Swallow sidelined with a suspected hamstring strain after collecting eight touches in the first quarter, the SUNS looked somewhat vulnerable.

Enter Mitch Hallahan, who flew back to Queensland from Melbourne on Thursday.

The former Hawk stood up when his team needed him, kicking three goals in the second term to give the SUNS a 19-point lead at the main break.

After the two sides returned for the second half, Aspley would get on the board first, booting two goals to reduce the margin to single figures.

The SUNS then fired back, kicking five unanswered goals with Hallahan’s fourth major stretching the lead to 37 points, the largest of the game.

With the game on the line, Aspley wouldn’t go away, with four straight goals. Zak Saad booted his fourth to steady the ship for the SUNS, with the side heading into the three-quarter time huddle with a 23-point lead.

After 13 goals in the third quarter, it was a tighter tussle in the final term. Aspley kicked the first goal before Academy product Nick Kempe hit back at the 10-minute mark.

The Hornets booted the next two to cut the margin to 12 points at the 19-minute mark before an Aspley goal deep into time-on slashed the lead to less than one straight kick. However, the SUNS defence would hold firm to claim the all-important four points and a memorable victory.

Hallahan finished with a game-high 35 disposals with Jesse Joyce collecting 26.

Given NT Thunder’s win over Southport earlier in the day, Gold Coast’s win sealed sixth spot on the ladder for the SUNS and an elimination final match-up against Sydney University in Sydney.

ASPLEY                3.4     6.8   12.12   16.15 (111)
GOLD COAST       4.1   10.3     17.5      18.7 (115)

GOALS
Gold Coast: M Hallahan 4 Z Saad 4 N Kempe 2 J Williams 2 M Willis D Swallow H Simington S Tape S Donnelly S Watson
Aspley: G Grose 3 E Mallan 2 R Holman 2 E Sansbury 2 M Hutchinson 2 J Ives J Nelis J Daye H Joyce

BEST
Gold Coast: M Hallahan S Tape J Joyce T Keough Z Saad B Crossley
Aspley: M Payne M Hutchinson J Turner H Joyce R Holman