Locked together early in the final term, the Gold Coasters skipped clear, securing a 20-point victory and avenging their early season loss to the inform Sydney Siders.
It took several minutes for both sides to adjust to the wet and slippery conditions, the GC SUNS getting the scoring underway after a great passage of play from Karmichael Hunt which saw Jackson Allen slot the first score of the afternoon.
While the Swans managed to respond with a couple of quick goals of their own, Steven May did his best to steal back the momentum for the SUNS – dribbling the ball through for a goal.
Andrew Boston managed to get himself on the early goal-kickers list, finding the middle of the sticks at the southern end.
It proved a bittersweet second quarter for the Gold Coasters, dealt a blow when Henry Schade was stretched from the ground with a suspected ankle injury.
Fortunately for Schade and the Gold Coast, scans this evening cleared the exciting Tasmanian Rookie of a break.
Looking to force his way back into the senior team, throughout the contest, while Maverick Weller did his best to lift his teammates after the Swans threatened mid-way through the third quarter, kicking a great snap towards the goal from beyond the 50m arch to kick his first major for the afternoon.
The Swans threatened early in the third term, drawing level with the home sideAfter the Swans, Andrew Boston standing up when Shaun Hart needed him most. The Broadbeach junior kicking successive goals to provide the Gold Coasters with some much needed breathing space.
NEAFL coach Shaun Hart had nothing but praise for his most experienced NEAFL side in his post-match interview with goldcoastfc.com.au, admiring his playing group’s ability to fire back when their backs were against the wall.
“To lose so many resources in the second half, and to have only 18 fit bodies in today’s modern game against players who are rotating, is just an unbelievable effort from our guys I thought,” said Hart.
“Our player’s ability to absorb the challenge and to continue to push forward is a credit to the high performance team and also their mental toughness.”
The NEAFL SUNS will now begin preparations for their match against the UWS Giants next weekend, when the side boards the flight down south to take on their AFL-affiliated rivals at Skoda Stadium.
Gold Coast SUNS 10.9.69
Sydney Swans Reserves 7.8.50
