One of the very best individual performances in Gold Coast SUNS’ history, at least statistically, was hidden amid the disappointment on Saturday’s monstrous loss to the West Coast Eagles in Perth.

In a 92-point hiding Mitch Hallahan stamped his personal mark on the contest with a triple double, posting double-figure statistics in three of what might be labelled the “grunt” categories – tackles, contested possessions and clearances.

Playing just his fourth game for the SUNS, his 10^th AFL game overall and his 1^st on the wide expanse of Domain Stadium, the 22-year-old inside midfielder had 12 tackles, 22 contested possessions and a club record 15 clearances.

Astonishingly, it was a career-best for the ex-Hawthorn draftee in all three categories.

And that after Hallahan was not included in the original SUNS side, and only got a late call-up with Greg Broughton when Tom Lynch and Luke Russell were forced out through injury and illness.

In 95 SUNS games this blue collar triple double has been achieved only once. And that by the incomparable Gary Ablett.

The 2011-12-13 club champion achieved this rare mark in the Round 6 win last year against the GWS Giants at Metricon Stadium, when he collected 11 tackles, 12 clearances and 21 contested possessions.

Among other SUNS players, 2014 club champion Dion Prestia has come closest, twice missing by one tackle.

Prestia had nine tackles, 10 clearances and 16 contested possessions against Port Adelaide at Metricon last year, and, ironically, nine tackles, 11 clearances and 11 contested possessions against West Coast last Saturday.

While the SUNS effort against the Eagles wasn’t one that will be long remembered, there were some standout individual numbers built on hard work which may have been some consolation.

Collectively, the SUNS had a club record 105 tackles. It was just the third time they have topped triple figures after doing so in the 2013 home clash with North Melbourne (101) and the 2014 Gabba clash with Brisbane (103).

Acting captain Michael Rischitelli led the way with a career-best 12 tackles in his 185^th game, falling just short of Ablett’s club record of 14 set in 2011. Tom Nicholls had a personal-best 11 tackles to match the effort of Hallahan.

Hallahan’s 15 clearances surpassed the previous best effort by a SUNS player of 14, set by Jared Brennan in the first Q-Clash against Brisbane at the Gabba in 2011.

The in-form Prestia topped double-figures in clearances for the fourth time this year with an equal career-best 11.

Hallahan’s 22 contested possessions saw him reach a level only attained for the SUNS by Ablett, who holds the club record at 27. He also has a game of 23 contested possessions and two hauls of 22.

Also, Jack Leslie, playing his first game of the year and his third overall, had 11 1%ers. This is a mark that has only been bettered in the SUNS camp this year by Steven May, who had 15 and 12 1%ers in Rounds 4-5.