The NEAFL SUNS have returned to the winners list for the first time in a month with a comfortable 61 point over Redlands Bombers at Victoria Point on Saturday.
After a relatively slow start, the SUNS unleashed a 10 goal blitz in the second quarter to break the game open and eventually run out 24.15 (159) to 14.14 (98) victors.
Coach Shaun Hart said the SUNS were initially caught off guard by the Bombers, but recovered well.
“We got jumped at the start, it was four goals to nothing very early on,” he said.
“But by quarter time we had leveled it up, and in the second quarter we came out and kicked 10 goals and eventually won by about that.
“It was a pretty good performance overall.”
Hart said despite the win, the SUNS still had plenty of scope for improvement.
“We just started to do a number of things a bit better but we still have a fair about of improvement in us,” he said.
“I probably rated us about a six out of ten effort overall.”
“It was a much better defensive performance, as was our forward half ball movement.”
The SUNS swung the axe at senior level after last weekend’s disappointing loss to the Giants, and there were mixed results from the most high profile casualties, Jared Brennan and Trent McKenzie, from Hart.
“Jared struggled to find the footy and have the game I expected he could have had at this level,” he said.
“Trent got a hold of the footy a bit but was probably inconsistent with his kicking, but his general effort was pretty good.”
Two SUNS who earned big ticks form Hart were Alik Magin and Maveric Weller.
“Our best couple were Magin and Weller,” he said.
“Weller played his best game for the year without a doubt. He was bullocking and played the role he needed to play at all stages of the game.”
“Magin was fantastic. He kicked three goals in seven minutes in the second quarter playing the small forward role.”
Others who put in strong performances for the SUNS were Tom Hickey, Aaron Hall and Josh Hall.
“Tom Hickey was terrific in the ruck, really controlling the stoppages and taking a whole heap of marks around the game.”
“Aaron Hall was zippy all day and really used his speed well at both ends.”
“Josh Hall took some great contested marks and kicked three goals, and played a centre half forward type role.”
The SUNS win lifted them to fourth (5 wins, 3 losses) on the NEAFL Northern Conference ladder heading into a conference bye next weekend, before heading to Sydney to take on the Swans on the 3rd June.
GOLD COAST SUNS 3.7 13.8 17.11 24.15 (159)
REDLAND 4.3 8.5 11.9 14.14 (98)
GOALS: Josh Fraser 5, Alik Magin 4, Josh Hall 3, Lewis Moss 2, Tom Hickey 2, Mitchell Hopkins 2, Trent McKenzie, Jared Brennan, Josh Macanash, Nic Ellis, Jaegar O’Meara, Jacob Gillbee.
BEST: Alik Magin, Maverick Weller, Tom Hickey, Aaron Hall, Josh Hall, Josh Toy, Jackson Allen, Josh Fraser.
