The Gold Coast SUNS have gone down to a finals-bound Sydney Swans outfit in the final match of the club’s season at Marvel Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Swans had the SUNS on the back foot early and despite an even second quarter, were too good in the end, triumphing 21.10 (136) to 6.13 (49).
It wasn’t the way the SUNS wanted to send off foundation players Jarrod Harbrow and Zac Smith in their final match, with Harbrow also being subbed out late in the match with a shoulder injury.
Ben King's four goals were among few positives for the SUNS, while Touk Miller ended his fantastic season with another 30+ disposal-effort.
Debutant Alex Davies showed some impressive traits through the midfield, finishing with 16 disposals and seven tackles.
After being on the road for the best part of a month, the SUNS will fly back to Queensland tonight and begin a two-week quarantine period.
Miller makes time to break record
Touk Miller completed his stunning streak of having 30+ disposals to a record-breaking 16 matches. The SUNS gun finished with 37 disposals, four clearances and nine tackles as he again carried a misfiring midfield. The 25-year-old will surely claim his first Club Champion award but Miller’s record of consistency also has him well-placed for a maiden All-Australian blazer. He is ineligible to add the Brownlow Medal to any honours this year, but is prolific enough to regularly catch the umpire’s eye.
Sun sets on Harbrow’s time
The SUNS honoured their games record-holder by warming up in T-shirts with 'Harbrow 5' on the back but weren't able to send him off with a win in his 192nd and final match for the club. Jarrod Harbrow started the game on the bench but ended it as one of the SUNS’ best as he gathered 21 disposals which included 16 of his typically silky kicks, before he was subbed out with five minutes remaining due to a shoulder injury. The SUNS’ 2018 Club Champion almost finished with a goal too, when a shot on the run from outside 50m in the first term looked on target but was denied by an unlucky bounce.
SYDNEY 6.4 9.7 13.7 21.10 (136)
GOLD COAST 0.4 3.8 5.9 6.13 (49)
GOALS
Sydney: Franklin 6, Papley 3, Heeney 3, Wicks 2, McLean 2, Mills, Dawson, Gulden, Hickey, Rowbottom
Gold Coast: King 4, Corbett, Sexton
BEST
Sydney: Franklin, Dawson, Heeney, Hickey, Parker, McInerney, Lloyd
Gold Coast: Miller, Anderson, Harbrow, Davies, Fiorini
INJURIES
Sydney: Mills (TBC)
Gold Coast: Harbrow (shoulder)
SUBSTITUTES
Sydney: Fox (replaced Mills)
Gold Coast: Sharp (replaced Harbrow)
Crowd: 0 at Marvel Stadium
