IT was one of the bravest performances of the season as the Gold Coast Football Club pushed VFL ladder leaders North Ballarat all the way in arctic conditions at Eureka Stadiums today.
The GCFC were hard at the contest for all four quarters in its 6-12 (48) to 3-1 (19) loss to the Roosters.
Both teams found the conditions tough, which was understandable.
It was eight degrees with a very strong breeze, while rain pelted down for the majority of the match.
But the GCFC never stopped trying in an effort which would have pleased GCFC coach Guy McKenna.
Livewire Brandon Matera booted two goals for the Coast while Tasmanian Luke Russell booted the other major.
The ruck combination of Zac Smith and Tom Nicholls worked well while the likes of Maverick Weller, Roland Ah Chee, David Swallow and Russell revelled in the heavy conditions.
The last term was similar to the others – low scoring with every possession a contested one.
But the way the GCFC held their nerve and fought out the match was very impressive.
The highlight was Matera’s second goal for the match.
The highly rated West Australian marked strong and goaled from a set shot late in the game.
The third term was a tight, scrappy affair played in miserable conditions.
The work rate of the boys was exceptional even though they weren’t able to reduce the home side’s lead from half-time.
Both teams could only manage one behind apiece in the premiership quarter with the likes of Weller, Russell , Ah Chee and Matera all starring.
McKenna praised his team at quarter-time for their intensity and asked them to stick at it in the second quarter.
But it was the Roosters that lifted after the first change.
In pelting rain, the Roosters added three goals for the term to jump out to a 25-point lead at half-time.
It was a case of the home side playing the conditions better mixed with their strong contingent of North Melbourne AFL listed players.
The GCFC did not give up at all but could not manage a score for the second quarter.
The visitors could not have started better in terms of hardness at the contest.
In terrible conditions they would not be properly accustomed to, they came out ready to compete.
The Roosters kicked the opener through Aaron Edwards but hit back through Russell, who won a free kick in the goalsquare.
They let another in before Matera kicked a beautiful running goal just before quarter-time.
It meant the GCFC were down by just four points at the first change and very much in the game.
GCFC 2.0 (12) 2.0 (12) 2.1(13) 3.1(19)
North Ballarat Roosters 2.4(16) 5.7(37) 5.8(38) 6.12(48)
Goals: Matera (2), Russell (1)
Best: Trent McKenzie, Luke Russell, Brandon Matera, Tom Nicholls, Sam Iles and Zac Smith
