It was a wet weather slugfest, but the Sydney Swans were too clean and ultimately too classy for Gold Coast, winning by 38 points at a waterlogged Metricon Stadium on Saturday night.
The game was played in atrocious conditions after the Gold Coast was bucketed with more than 200mm of rain in the 24 hours prior to its start, but the Swans ended up 11.13 (79) to 6.5 (41) winners.
The SUNS led by 11 points at quarter-time, but the Swans took charge thereafter, kicking 10 of the game's final 13 goals to inflict the home team's eighth successive loss.
Gold Coast vice-captain Tom Lynch was reported in the dying minutes for a stomach punch to Jeremy Laidler.
The Swans are second at the season's halfway mark with a 9-2 record, and face a mouth-watering local derby against Greater Western Sydney next Sunday.
They used a five-goal burst to start the second quarter to set up victory.
Gold Coast product Kurt Tippett returned to his hometown to dominate in front of 4368 diehard fans, finishing with 16 disposals, 50 hitouts – many to advantage – and five clearances.
Dan Hannebery continued his stellar season with 36 disposals, while Tom Mitchell not only collected 33 touches and 14 tackles of his own, but ran with SUNS skipper Gary Ablett (26) in an engrossing duel.
Despite its incredible drainage, puddles of surface water covered Metricon Stadium as rain lashed the ground for most of the four quarters.
It was particularly heavy in the first half as players had no hope of keeping their feet, before easing in the last term.
Every kick was earned, every mark cherished and every goal like a gold nugget.
On a night when both teams set club records for tackles – the Swans with 131 and the SUNS 115 - Luke Parker's two exquisite goals highlighted the class gap.
After a slick handpass from Gary Rohan, the All Australian midfielder executed a perfect banana kick off the right foot in the second term, before an even better set shot in the final term that he slotted from 40m on the right boundary line.
Gold Coast was brave though, and despite another loss can hold its heads high.
They were over-run in the last quarter, but won the clearances (52-44) despite Tippett's dominance and created enough chances with 56 inside 50s to the Swans' 58.
Matt Rosa (33 touches) was brilliant in his first match back after missing three weeks with a hamstring injury, while Touk Miller (32) and Jarrod Harbrow (24) battled hard alongside Ablett.
With Adam Saad, Sam Day, Rory Thompson and Trent McKenzie all a chance to return next week, they can expect further improvement for the remainder of the season.
GOLD COAST 3.2 4.5 5.5 6.5 (41)
SYDNEY 1.3 6.6 8.13 11.13 (79)
GOALS
Gold Coast: Sexton, Davis, Lonergan, Lynch, Rosa, Matera
Sydney: Rohan 2, Parker 2, Sinclair, Lloyd, Franklin, Rose, Mitchell, Jack, Heeney
BEST
Gold Coast: Rosa, Miller, Ablett, Harbrow, Ah Chee, Prestia
Sydney: Tippett, Hannebery, Mitchell, Rohan, Kennedy, Rampe
INJURIES
Gold Coast: Lonergan (knee)
Sydney: Mills (managed) replaced in selected side by Rose, Hewett (concussion)
Reports: Tom Lynch (GC) reported for striking Jeremy Laidler (Syd) in the fourth quarter
Umpires: Rosebury, O’Gorman, Wallace
Official crowd: 4368 at Metricon Stadium
