The Gold Coast SUNS have gone down to the Coburg Lions by 24 points at Piranha Park on Sunday afternoon.
The SUNS, eyeing a berth in the top eight, were ambushed by a second quarter burst from the Lions that could not be reeled in.
Despite the best efforts from Sam Day and Chris Burgess, who kicked four and three goals respectively, Coburg was too strong in the closing stages of the fourth quarter.
A slow and inaccurate start from the SUNS saw Coburg led by two points at quarter-time with the Gold Coast kicking five behinds in the term.
Rory Atkins kicked the only SUNS goal for the quarter, courtesy of a brilliant centering kick from veteran Day.
After a hot start to the second term where the SUNS kicked three of the first four goals, Coburg seized moment.
The Lions would go on to kick the next seven goals before Jye Lockett stemmed the bleeding only to be answered just before halftime.
Brayden Fiorini had 20 disposals by half-time, along with seven clearances to be a shining light for the SUNS in a term where they struggled to gain ascendency.
Fiorini had a day out, finishing with 34 touches, nine clearances and eight tackles to be the highest rated player on the ground.
On the back of a nine-goal quarter from the Lions, the SUNS trailed by 32 points at the main break.
The third term was a tightly contested affair, as the free-flowing scoring from the second quarter dried up.
Day broke the deadlock with his third, before the SUNS would close out the quarter with back-to-back goals from Jeremy Sharp and Burgess to arrest some momentum and bring the margin back to 19 points.
Sharp was prominent in the third quarter, as was Darcy Macpherson both beginning to win the footy and impact the scoreboard.
The SUNS burst out of the blocks in the final term, kicking the first two goals to only trail by six points.
Coburg then wrestled back the advantage by kicking four straight majors, to put the game beyond doubt.
Jared Eckersley’s first goal for the season and a consolation score to Burgess, were the only positives in final minutes of the fourth quarter for the Gold Coast.
Jack Lukosius made his return to football against the Lions with no issues.
The SUNS will return to Metricon Stadium next week to face Frankston Dolphins at 12:50pm on Saturday.
Gold Coast SUNS 1.5 5.6 8.9 11.12 (78)
Coburg Lions 2.1 11.2 12.4 16.6 (102)
Goals: Day 4, Burgess 3, Atkins, Eckersley, Lockett, Sharp
Best: Fiorini, Day, Burgess, Moyle, Constable
