GOLD Coast has won back-to-back games for the first time in its short history in the AFL Women's competition after a gutsy come-from-behind victory over Richmond at Metricon Stadium on Sunday.
The Suns had the better of play for much of the day but had to overcome an eight-point deficit at the final change to win 5.9 (39) to 5.4 (34).
It backed up their round two victory over West Coast.
Alison Drennan was magnificent in the final term, gathering 11 of her 27 disposals and five of her nine clearances to drive Gold Coast home.
Energetic Kate Surman kicked a goal from 40m to reduce the margin to two points before Cheyenne Hammond kicked her first career goal in her 17th game to put the Suns in front.
It was a lead they would not relinquish, with Kalinda Howarth desperately touching a Katie Brennan shot on the goal line with less than two minutes remaining.
Gold Coast won with a player down for the second half following a knee injury to important defender Jade Pregelj.
Forwards Tara Bohanna (two goals) and Sarah Perkins (one goal and the crucial assist for Hammond) were headaches all day, while No.1 draft pick Charlie Rowbottom again impressed.
Gold Coast dominated for much of the first half but was unable to capitalise on the scoreboard.
It generated 25 inside 50s to Richmond's seven, but led by just four points as a combination of missing gettable shots at goal and poor turnovers in the defensive 50 kept the Tigers in the contest.
Monique Conti (21 disposals) dealt with a tag from Jamie Stanton to work her way into the contest, while Katie Brennan (two goals) had the best of her battle with Lauren Ahrens.
The moment
With Gold Coast trailing by a point and the clock winding down, the home team was pressing but still needed a hero. With the ball bobbling around inside its forward 50, Sarah Perkins showed her class with a clean pick-up and slick hands to a passing Cheyenne Hammond who ran into the open go-ahead goal. Perkins was fantastic all day and this moment was the icing.
The Conti-Stanton duel
Mon Conti has been in sensational form during the early stages of the season, gathering 29, 25 and 22 disposals in the first three rounds. Gold Coast was doing everything in its power to quell her influence, sending noted stopper Jamie Stanton to run with her. Conti battled to 10 disposals in the first half, and although Stanton had to slightly relax the role in the second half, continued to keep a close eye on the lightning Tiger. She finished with 21 (including six clearances) and 10 tackles to Stanton's 19 touches in an enthralling duel.
One to watch
She may have been overlooked in draft after draft after draft, but Gold Coast forward Tara Bohanna is making up for lost time. After kicking four goals in her first two marches for the Suns, the 26-year-old continued to impress against the Tigers, kicking 2.3 from 16 disposals. Her aerial work was outstanding – eight marks – and Bohanna's ability to find space caused continual headaches for her opponents.
Say what?
"She just doesn't stop running. She just gets from contest to contest and gives herself an opportunity to get the footy. She's been working so hard across the whole pre-season and it probably came out for her today, which was great." – Gold Coast coach Cameron Joyce (on Ali Drennan)
"That has hurt the most out of any game. We are tracking the right way, we are improving, we are getting better, we stick to the process, but there does become a point in time when you've got to stick your flag in the ground and go 'no, that hurts too much'." – Richmond coach Ryan Ferguson
What's next?
Gold Coast has one of the toughest trips in the competition to try and make it three successive wins, taking on Melbourne at Casey Fields next Sunday at 5.10pm AEDT. Richmond plays the Western Bulldogs at Victoria University Whitten Oval on Saturday at 7.10pm AEDT.
GOLD COAST 1.5 3.7 3.7 5.9 (39)
RICHMOND 1.0 3.3 5.3 5.4 (34)
GOALS
Gold Coast: Bohanna 2, Hammond, Perkins, Surman
Richmond: Brennan 2, Dargan, Dempsey, Lavey
BEST
Gold Coast: Drennan, Bohanna, Perkins, Rowbottom, Stanton
Richmond: Dempsey, Miller, Conti, Brennan
INJURIES
Gold Coast: Pregelj (knee)
Richmond: Nil
Reports: Nil
Crowd: TBC at Metricon Stadium
