The Gold Coast SUNS have been outplayed and outmuscled by a resurgent Carlton outfit on Sunday afternoon at Etihad Stadium, with the 34-point loss putting more distance between the two sides at the bottom of the ladder.
The signs were good early for Rodney Eade’s team on the back of a strong patch of form in the opening term. Gold Coast booted five of the last six goals in the first quarter to open up a 14-point buffer at the first break.
Tom Lynch and Charlie Dixon caused headaches in attack during the opening term, and for the first two-and-a-half quarters before Dixon was substituted out of the game with an ankle injury. The pair combined for seven of the SUNS' nine goals, with Dixon playing with an inspirational urgency, as well as a commanding four marks inside 50.
When the SUNS spearhead departed the affair, Carlton took control of the game and ran away with a comprehensive victory - the second consecutive win under interim coach John Barker.
As has been the case for the majority of the season, Gold Coast’s midfield was decimated by the opposition with the Blues smashing the SUNS in clearances (+22), possessions (+130) and uncontested ball (+100). Enormous victories in all three categories.
Michael Rischitelli (25 disposals) and Harley Bennell (24 disposals) put up a fight in the middle of the ground, but the lack of depth and inability to spread from stoppages was a sad reminder of the class currently unavailable due to injury.
Mature-aged rookie Adam Saad produced another exciting performance, chiselled from moments of audaciousness that had to be seen to be believed. Although he was slightly down on his recent output, but he wasn’t alone with the SUNS simply unable to get their hands on the ball for the duration of Sunday’s game.
CARLTON 3.3 8.7 11.14 14.19 (103)
GOLD COAST 5.5 6.7 8.9 9.15 (69)
GOALS
Carlton: Casboult 3, Everitt 3, Henderson 2, Armfield 2, Menzel, Tuohy, Yarran, Buckley
Gold Coast: Lynch 4, Dixon 3, Bennell, Boston
BEST
Carlton: Bell, Simpson, Murphy, Carrazzo, Tuohy, Yarran
Gold Coast: Lynch, May, Dixon, Rischitelli
INJURIES
Carlton: Menzel (right knee), Docherty (back/hamstring)
Gold Coast: Dixon (left ankle)
SUBSTITUTES
Carlton: Nick Malceski replaced Charlie Dixon in the third quarter
Gold Coast: Nick Holman replaced Troy Menzel in the third quarter
Reports: Andrew Raines (Gold Coast) reported for striking Patrick Cripps in the last quarter
Umpires: Farmer, Ryan, Harris
Official crowd: 30,207 at Etihad Stadium
