The Gold Coast SUNS have scored the upset of the 2012 Toyota AFL Premiership season scoring a shock 12 point win over the Carlton Football Club.
Despite having 20 senior players unavailable due to injury, the Gold Coasters turned in one the finest performances in their short history, in their final home game of the season.
The crowd of 15,251 was treated to a blistering start as the Gold Coasters landed six majors to two, taking a commanding 22 point lead into the second term.
The home team piled on another five goals leading into half time including a freakish effort from skipper Gary Ablett who found the posts from a near impossible angle. It was an effort which drew praise from Coach Guy McKenna post match.
“Gary was able to go forward and set up and kick crucial goals at crucial periods in the game which was fantastic.”
Forced to miss a number of sessions during the week with a chest infection, Ablett played down his condition during the post match media conference, however he had clearly impressed the Coach.
He certainly played wounded tonight and he was tremendous in the way he performed and in the way he led the side tonight, he is sicker than he let on and when it counted, he didn’t skip a beat, in fact he was able to lift. Said McKenna.
A desperate Carlton clawed their way back into the match with a five goal to one third term, however the home side constantly hurled themselves at the Sherrin during an enthralling final period and when the final siren sounded the Gold Coasters had secured the most memorable victory in their short history.
GOLD COAST SUNS 6.1 11.3 12.7 15.8 (98)
CARLTON 2.3 4.7 9.13 11.20 (86)
A delirious crowd cheered the SUNS all the way to the final siren and then celebrated for almost an hour post match as the entire squad posed for a thank you photo with fans, the Clubs song ringing out in victory for a second successive home match. (Click here to download the fan photo)
Carlton embarrassed the young SUNS by 119 points during their debut AFL Premiership match at the Gabba last season, last nights win completing an incredible 131 point turn around.
Gold Coast: Lynch 4, Caddy 3, Brown 2, Ablett, Dixon, Hickey, Horsley, McKenzie, Weller
Carlton: Betts 2, McLean 2, Judd 2, Waite 2, Yarran 2, Garlett
BEST
Carlton: McLean, Judd, Yarran, Carrazzo, Scotland, Kreuzer
Gold Coast: Dixon, Coad, Ablett, Bennell, Lynch, Matera
INJURIES
Carlton: Andrew McInnes (knee)
Gold Coast: Taylor (abdomen) replaced in selected side by Josh Toy
SUBSTITUTES
Carlton: David Ellard replaced Andrew McInnes (knee) in the first quarter
Gold Coast: Josh Toy replaced Tom Hickey in the fourth quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Hay, Ryan, Pannell
Official crowd: 15,251 at Metricon Stadium
Click here for SUNS v Carlton match highlights
