West Coast thrash Gold Coast SUNS with ease
The Age
Brad Elborough
Things are going to get worse for the Gold Coast before they get any better. The SUNS face Collingwood, Hawthorn, Sydney and Fremantle in the next four games leading to the bye. They aren’t likely to get many of their injured brigade back before then and could turn at the break with a 1-10 record.
Gold Coast's coaches spoke during the week about setting a standard, but Saturday’s performance isn’t what Rodney Eade would be looking for.
They saw three players return to the side after spending a week in the NEAFL for disciplinary reasons. One of the few shining lights was the way Harley Bennell performed after a week in the reserves as punishment for a boozy night out.
He had 23 touches in the first three quarters, but limped from the ground just before the last break with a knee injury. He didn’t return and because the Suns had subbed out Sean Lemmens moments earlier, they played the final term one player short on the bench.
Gold Coast coach Rodney Eade vows SUNS will fight to end
Gold Coast Bulletin
Neale Grundy
The Gold Coast SUNS’ AFL season is effectively done and dusted but coach Rodney Eade is adamant running dead is not an option for a team crippled by injury.
Gold Coast slipped to a 1-6 win-loss record after an old-style 92-point belting from West Coast on Saturday and a 1-10 start to the AFL season appears likely with matches against Collingwood, Hawthorn, Sydney and Fremantle looming.
In the face of a cruel injury list the inexperienced SUNS were thrown into the lion’s den at Domain Stadium and periods of sheeting rain added to the misery of their trip west.
They battled gamely in the first quarter but a dozen goals by the home side in the third term threatened a number of records before the SUNS claimed the last term once the Eagles took their foot off the pedal.
Eagles down SUNS in third-term blitz
Perth Now
Chris Robinson
First impressions can be deceiving.
Coming into the season, the at-a-glance predictions for Saturday night’s Subiaco Oval combatants were that one would be looking to push for a top-four berth, and the other struggling to overcome a raft of injuries.
Barely two months later, those descriptions ring true for West Coast and Gold Coast – only the two have essentially swapped positions.
Similarly, the initial impression heading into the clash in damp and slippery conditions was that scoring would be difficult to come by.
