Keegan Brooksby booted six goals to help Gold Coast defeat Redland by 77 points in a see-sawing encounter at Metricon Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Redland started the game impressively but Gold Coast were too good, coming from behind to win 21.15 (141) to 10.4 (64).
The Bombers started the game full of gusto to lead the SUNS by 25 points at quarter-time.
However, a nine-goal second quarter for the SUNS, who fielded 16-AFL listed players, took the ascendancy away from Redland very quickly.
The SUNS were able to consistently win the centre clearances, thanks to some fantastic ruck work from Daniel Currie, who finished with 49-hit outs.
Darcy Macpherson and Mitch Hallahan were very solid in the midfield as well, each having more than 30 disposals.
Redland were able to stay in touch with Gold Coast until three-quarter time, trailing the SUNS by 31 points at the last change.
But the SUNS showed their dominance in the final term, kicking eight goals – Darcy Macpherson with three of them – to finish the game as 77-point victors.
Peter Yagmoor and Clay Cameron were solid contributors for Redland though, taking a number of intercept marks.
Scott Miller and Adrian Williams were also good for the Bombers, with their rebound from defensive 50.
Gold Coast SUNS coach Stephen Daniel said he was happy with the win, but disappointed with the first quarter.
“At quarter time the players got an old-fashioned talking to. We weren’t happy with the way we started but we were terrific in the second, so we were really happy with that,” he said.
“We put the first quarter down to mindset, the players thought it might just happen and it didn’t. We need to fix up a few things of our game, but overall we were fairly pleased.
“It was also terrific to see Brooksby kick six and he was one of our best players. Mitch Hallahan, Ryan Davis across the half back and Darcy Macpherson were also really good for us.”
Macpherson (31 disposals, three goals) and Hallahan (30 disposals, seven clearances) did the bulk of the damage while Ryan Davis (26 disposals, three goals) was also among their better players alongside Brooksby.
Damian Steven – in his 100th NEAFL match – led the disposals for Redland with 21, while Williams continued his white-hot form in recent weeks with 20 disposals, plus seven marks and five rebound 50s.
Gold Coast now look forward to playing the local derby against Southport at Fankhauser Reserve next week, while Redland play another AFL curtain raiser against Brisbane on Sunday at the Gabba.
Gold Coast SUNS v Redland at Metricon Stadium
GOLD COAST 2.1 11.6 13.11 21.15 (141)
REDLAND 6.2 7.3 9.4 10.4 (64)
GOALS
Gold Coast: K Brooksby 6, D Macpherson 3, R Davis 3, J Grant 2, W Brodie, B Crossley, B Scheer, J Schoenfeld, M Willis, M Hallahan, D Currie
Redland: A Christensen 2, J Licht 2, J O’Donnell, J Rolls, J Paine, C Cameron, M Thomson, B Bailey
BEST
Gold Coast: M Hallahan K Brooksby R Davis D Macpherson J Schoenfeld J Lonergan
Redland: P Yagmoor, C Cameron, S Miller, A Williams
