The NEAFL SUNS have bounced back from last weeks poor showing against Sydney to record a comfortable 68 point victory over Broadbeach at Metricon Stadium.
In a crucial match-up between fifth and seventh on the ladder, the SUNS set up their win with a powerful first half, where they kicked nine goals and held Broadbeach to just three goals.
They eventually went on to win 18.9 (117) to 6.15 (51).
Coach Shaun Hart said he was looking for something from his squad in response to last weeks efforts, and was delighted with the response he got.
“Ladder position aside, I think it was just important that we play football that we are capable of playing,” he said.
“I didn’t think we did last week, and this week we played football that surprised me pleasantly.”
“I didn’t expect the consistency and the performance from our squad today given we had a lot of top up players.”
With experienced players such as Andrew McQualter, Michael Coad and Kyal Horsley absence from the side, it was a youthful side the SUNS fielded, including eight top up players, all of whom performed admirably.
Hart said it was one of the better team performances of the year.
“I thought every player on our list, and all our top up players just did exactly what we wanted them to do and it is amazing the result you can get when we do that,” he said.
Hart revealed the pre-match focus was on how the club as a whole being under the microscope.
“I spoke to the players before the game about us being a club under siege, and really understanding that you are being measured all the time,” he said.
“We need to be responding to that and doing everything we can in our own powers to give our best performance and not accept anything less than that.”
The most experienced player in the side, Josh Fraser, was dominant up forward, bagging seven goals and Hart said his leadership had been developing being in such a young side.
“He is very important because he gives a lot to the young guys around him and he is really learning to do that,” he said.
“He wouldn’t enjoy probably not playing senior football at the moment, but his ability to be smart out there and organise the forward line stands out.”
Maverick Weller and Steven May were given the crucial roles of curtailing dangerous Broadbeach pair in midfielder Ezra Poyas and full forward Jason Eagle respectively, and did the job with aplomb, severely limiting their influence.
Hart was full of praise for the pair.
“I thought he (May) was fantastic today, along with the whole defensive unit,” he said.
“Mav Weller did a fantastic job on Ezra Poyas. He (Poyas) got off the leash a couple of times but generally Mav shut him down.”
Another SUN who was outstanding was Piers Flanagan, who continues on the comeback trail from a hip injury that wiped out his 2011 season.
“He had 20 odd possessions last week and we thought he didn’t have a reasonable game but today he did the things we have been asking him to do,” said Hart.
“He got the footy and really took off, changed direction and used a bit of speed and that what we have been after and he really looked like a player.”
Although Hart said it was hard to pick out any individuals in an all round team effort, Taylor Hine and Hayden Jolly, Joel Wilkinson, Jackson Allen, Zac Smith and Liam Patrick were others who put in impressive performances.
The SUNS will face off with local rivals the Brisbane Lions next Saturday at Southport (1:30pm bounce), and Hart knows it will be a difficult assignment.
“They are the best team in the competition without a doubt. It will be a great test and it will be interesting to see how many guys we get up to play that game,” he said.
“There is no better time to be playing them than coming off this performance.”
GOLD COAST SUNS 5.2 9.4 13.9 18.9 (117)
BROADBEACH 2.1 3.5 3.9 6.15 (51)
GOALS: Josh Fraser 7, Liam Patrick 3, Jacob Gillbee, Josh Hall, Tom Nicholls, Hayden Jolly, Piers Flanagan, Brody Haberfield, Josh Bull, Zac Smith.
BEST: Piers Flanagan, Steven May, Josh Fraser, Maverick Weller, Joel Wilkinson, Taylor Hine, Liam Patrick, Hayden Jolly, Jackson Allen, Zac Smith.
