The Gold Coast SUNS jumped out of the blocks against the Hawks in Launceston on Sunday, leading the game at half time before eventually going down to the Hawks by 26-points.
The visitors won most of the key indicators on the day, ahead in tackles (+7), contested possessions (+16) and clearances (+5) but the reigning premier’s polish with the football ultimately was the difference with crucial missed opportunities in front of goal and inopportune turnovers costing the SUNS.
Skipper Gary Ablett was back to his dynamic best – registering his first 40+ disposal game since Round 15, 2014, a year where he was on track to take home the Brownlow Medal before succumbing to that infamous shoulder injury.
Ablett tallied 40 disposals (25 contested) to go with a career-high 15 clearances, four inside 50s and a goal that showed the Little Master hasn’t lost any of his class.
Spearhead Tom Lynch was a force down forward, plucking 10 marks (five contested) to go with 17 disposals and 3.2.
At the other end of the ground, Alex Sexton (22 disposals, seven rebound 50s) and Jarrod Harbrow (25 disposals) were solid while Tom Nicholls competed well in the ruck to finish with 17 touches, 27 hitouts, seven clearances and nine spoils.
Who gets your votes in Round 14?
Tom Lynch was the SUNS’ best player against Richmond in Round 12, with Gary Ablett a close second. Ablett’s 30 votes pushes him up to second in the count for 2016 with 153 votes, but he still trails Lynch by a considerable margin.
Round 12 v Richmond
Tom Lynch – 34 votes
Gary Ablett – 30 votes
Matt Rosa – 9 votes
Season Leaderboard
Tom Lynch – 223 votes
Gary Ablett – 153 votes
Aaron Hall – 152 votes
