Season 2012 is over for the NEAFL SUNS after they were convincingly beaten by the Redland Bombers in the Elimination Final at Victoria Point today.
With the SUNS battling a crippling injury toll, which has seen 20 players unavailable, the SUNS fielded a side which was unrecognisable to the team which comfortably accounted for the Bombers in their only previous meeting this season.
The SUNS, who fielded only eight AFL listed players, were no match for the experienced Bombers outfit, who eventually recorded a thumping 99 point victory.
After a tight opening 15 minutes, Redland took control with the last four goals of the term to take a 24 point lead at the quarter time break.
Things were looking bleak in the second quarter, with Redland kicking the only three goals, before a late goal to Josh Fraser kept the SUNS slim hopes alive, trailing by 39 points.
But it was all one way traffic in the second half, with Redland kicking 13 goals to three to triumph , 22.14 (146) to 6.11 (47).
Coach Shaun Hart bemoaned the SUNS poor ball use, but at the same time praised Redland's fierce attack on the footy.
They came to really hunt after us, realising that we were light and inexperienced; they came after us with a real aggression at the body, he said.
"This caused our guys to turn over the footy and we just didn't allow ourselves to get the ball forward. We just wanted to over handle it and they got hold of it from our turnovers and really caused us to be under pressure all day."
"You just can't afford not to kick the ball at over 50% (efficiency), we probably kicked it about 30 or 40% if we were lucky today."
"Our ruck/midfield coach, Jeff White, was saying that we were doing ok in the clearances but when you overplay and you don't use it well it is a formula for a poor scoreboard."
Hart was also disappointed the SUNS didn't get an opportunity to attack the finals series with a full squad.
Without a doubt I would have loved to have had the full compliment (of listed players) today or at least 13 or 14, it might've been a whole different story, he said.
"It definitely is disappointing because they've worked really hard and they have gone into combat each week with each other and all of a sudden you lose (so many players to injury)."
"It almost feels like a little bit of a token entry into the finals when you haven't got a proper squad that you can put together."
"The eight listed players that played today, what they actually learned is just how hard this game really is when you have got to pull more than your weight can pull."
Jared Brennan did not play a role in the last quarter with a niggling ankle injury.
It was a sad way for veteran, Josh Fraser, to bow out with his teammates clapping him off the ground after the final siren in what may be his final appearance for the NEAFL SUNS.
Coach, Shaun Hart, was coy on whether it was Fraser's final game, but believed he may have be leaning towards a future in coaching should he decide to hang up the boots.
There is still a week to go in the AFL season and you just don't know; dreams come true sometimes, you never know what can happen at selection, he said.
"I think from what I'm hearing he would like to get involved in coaching somewhere in the future."
When asked who he believed would win the NEAFL competition, Hart suggested that the SUNS conquerors today could be a wildcard.
"The natural thought would be the NT Thunder and the Lions," he said
"But Redland are a quality side and are a real team. Southport were beaten by them by a point earlier in the year so I think Redland will have a bit of a sniff against them next week and believe they can do it again."
"On the open big ground at Broadbeach I would fancy this Redland side, they have a really good running game. If they can get it on the outside I wonder if Southport can match them."
GOLD COAST SUNS 1.3 2.5 5.8 6.11 (47)
REDLAND 5.3 8.8 15.11 22.14 (146)
GOALS: Hayden Jolly 2, Josh Hall, Ethan Alexander-Crackel, Josh Fraser, Jordan Bourke.
BEST: Josh Fraser, Hayden Jolly, Sam Iles, Jermaine Wardel, Andrew Boston, Damian Dewis.
