1. Freo’s big guns fired when it mattered most

With scores level at half time and the game in the balance, it was Fremantle’s superstar midfielder Nat Fyfe who lifted. 

Finishing the game with 38 disposals, 14 clearances and eight marks, the Brownlow Medalist was in scintillating form. 

He formed a brilliant partnership with ruckman Aaron Sandilands, who got on top of Gold Coast’s Jarrod Witts. 

SUNS coach Stuart Dew admits that the two had a massive influence on the contest. 

“We were in it in the second and third quarters but … Freo’s class through the middle went harder for longer and was just able to overpower us. They stepped up as the guns do," Dew said. 

"Fyfe was unstoppable and Sandi helped him along the way.” 

2. Lyons continues good form

Jarryd Lyons did his best to curtail the dominance of Fyfe, going head to head with him in the midfield.

With 30 touches – including 15 contested possessions – plus a team-high 10 tackles and seven clearances, Lyons was doing plenty of the grunt work for the SUNS.

That makes it back-to-back big games for the midfielder, who has also shown an ability to go forward and hit the scoreboard, having kicked four goals already this season.

Lyons’ form has seen him move up the AFL’s Player Rating ranks since joining the SUNS, where he currently sits at number 19.

3. Not the best result for milestone men

Unfortunately, the SUNS weren’t able to celebrate two milestones in the way they would have liked.

David Swallow ran out for his 100^th game and in typical fashion, went about winning the hard ball. He finished the game with 21 disposals and six tackles to be among the best for Gold Coast.

The other milestone was a 50^th game for Lachie Weller, who was back to face his old side for the first time since crossing to the SUNS.

He had some good moments throughout the game, with 19 disposals and four inside 50s.

4. Sam Day goes from strength to strength

Playing his third game since returning from his long-term hip injury, Sam Day was able to provide a positive for Gold Coast after kicking three goals.

The big forward also took five grabs as he did his best to cover for Tom Lynch, who was held to one goal.

"We have been so rapt with Sam’s journey since I got the job," Dew said.

"If we were sitting here five months ago saying he’s played three AFL games … we would be ecstatic but now he’s just one of the team and that’s fantastic.

"It’s a good sign of the type of character he is to push back from that injury."