The light remains alight on Gold Coast’s 2018 NEAFL season after a character-building 27-point win over Redland at Metricon Stadium on Saturday evening.
The 15.11 (101) to 10.14 (74) win ensures the SUNS remain within arm’s reach of the top six on the NEAFL ladder, trailing the finals pack by just one win.
Five goals in each of the opening two quarters became the catalyst for the SUNS’ win – a result even more impressive given the home side fielded under ten AFL listed players for the clash.
Gold Coast head coach, Nick Malceski, was pleased by his side’s performance, however their route to capturing the four points for the first time in nearly a month wasn’t without it’s imperfections.
“It was really pleasing obviously getting the win. The boys played the right way; especially in the first half when we implemented what we wanted to do,” Malceski told neafl.com.au.
“I told the boys to play to their strengths and they did that.”
Gold Coast’s third quarters have been a continual issue for the side this year – a fact which again surfaced in Round 13 against the Bombers.
Over the past three games, the SUNS have been outscored by 94 points, scoring just two goals in total during that period.
On Saturday, the issue gave Redland an opportunity to claw their way back into the game, kicking 5.6 in the premiership term; culling the lead from 42-points at half-time to just 16 at the final break.
The SUNS’ continual third quarter lapses have become a genuine issue for the side according to Malceski.
“At half time, we identified that our third quarters have been pretty poor and unfortunately, we weren’t able to stop that,” Malceski said.
“That was a bit of discipline. Last week we did the same thing against Sydney University.”
“We’ve really struggled in the third quarters over the last three weeks. We’ve had something like 32 scoring shots against us. It’s not acceptable. It’s going to be a focus at half time next week.
Prior to their third-quarter lapse, the tale of the tape strongly favoured the SUNS, who produced nine of the first eleven scores of the game.
Their dominance continued in the second term as Kwaby Boakye, Harrison Arnold and Jack Scrimshaw all hit the scoreboards within the first ten minutes.
Redland wrestled their way back into the contest in the shadows of half time but their efforts weren’t represented on the scoreboard as evergreen veteran Brad Howard kicked the side’s only goal of the term after despite a plethora of chances.
To their credit, the Bombers were able to claw their way back into the game after the main break.
Twin towers Jackson Paine and Matt Hammelmann provided a constant target inside 50, combining for 3.2 in the term.
The margin teetered around the three-goal mark for much of the second half, but after Will Brodie and Fitzroy Greenwool kicked their first of the game in the final term, the game appeared all but done.
Kade Kolodjashnij made a big claim for his preclusion into the SUNS AFL team next week following 31 disposals, 14 marks and a goal.
The SUNS will enjoy a week off next weekend before their finals credentials are tested against an inform GWS GIANTS side at Spotless Stadium while Redland face the NT Thunder at home.
Gold Coast v Redland at Metricon Stadium
GOLD COAST 5.4 10.5 11.9 15.11 (101)
REDLAND 2.0 3.5 8.11 10.14 (74)
GOALS – Gold Coast: K Boakye 3 H Simington 2 C Portelli 2 F Greenwool 2 W Brodie T Lowah H Arnold C Nutting J Scrimshaw K Kolodjashnij.
Redland: M Hammelmann 3 J Paine 2 S Mills H Bertoli-Simmonds H Kerr B Howard A Christensen.
BEST – Gold Coast: K Kolodjashnij J Lonergan W Brodie J Heron J Scrimshaw F Greenwool.
Redland: C Malone P Yagmoor A Boon B Howard J Paine.
