The SUNS have been outclassed by a rampant Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night.
After a horror first half, the SUNS were able to wrest back some momentum in the third quarter but couldn’t overcome the hefty margin put on by the Bulldogs, in the end going down 17.16 (118) to 8.8 (56).
The Bulldogs looked a class above at times, with electric ball movement allowing them to continually surge the ball forward and put the SUNS defence under immense pressure.
The Suns failed to take their opportunities up forward, kicking 0.3 before finally slotting their first goal in the dying seconds before half time through Jack Lukosius.
But despite being 61 points down at half-time, the Suns refused to wilt.
They brought immense pressure in the third quarter and started to move the ball with speed down the ground, led by the precise kicking of Lukosius.
Gold Coast kicked six goals to two that term, with Ben King and Josh Corbett combining for four goals during the quarter.
Brandon Ellis and Touk Miller fought hard in the midfield while Jy Farrar also impressed in his first game of the year.
The SUNS will take on the Sydney Swans in Round 6 at Metricon Stadium next Saturday.
WESTERN BULLDOGS 4.1 11.4 13.9 17.16 (118)
GOLD COAST 0.2 1.3 7.4 8.8 (56)
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Bontempelli 3, Dunkley 2, Treloar 2, Bruce 2, Naughton 2, Wood, English, Hunter, McNeil, Liberatore, Scott
Gold Coast: Corbett 3, King 2, Lukosius, Rankine, Sexton
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Bontempelli, Dunkley, Treloar, Macrae, Hunter
Gold Coast: Lukosius, Corbett, King, Ellis, Miller
INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Vandermeer (back spasms) replaced in selected side by Lipinksi, Williams (shoulder)
Gold Coast: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Western Bulldogs: Ben Cavarra (replaced Williams)
Gold Coast: Sam Flanders (unused)
