Australian Football

Match Report

Rugby League convert Karmichael Hunt put a serious dent in Richmond’s finals chances with an incredible after-the-siren goal. More importantly for Gold Coast, it gave them their first win of the season and enabled them to move off the bottom of the ladder, with Greater Western Sydney slipping down last place. The Suns led by as much as 36 points during the third quarter but the Tigers were able to claw their way back. When Richmond led by 10 points with just two minutes to go, all seemed lost for Gold Coast. But a terrific running goal from Jarrod Harbrow gave the Suns hope. A surge forward and a snap from the pocket by Brandon Matera found Hunt 30 metres out from goal with the siren about to sound. The pressure was on, but Hunt, in his second year of AFL, calmly slotted the goal to send Suns players and fans into delirium. Incredibly, it was the Suns’ first win since they beat Richmond in the corresponding game in 2011. Richmond would definitely be having second thoughts about selling home games after the last two disasters in Cairns.

GOALS
Richmond: Riewoldt 5; Nahas 4; McGuane 2; Graham, Maric
Gold Coast: J Hall, Matera, Hunt 2; Ablett, Benell, Hunt, A Hall, Brown, Caddy, Swallow

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Richmond: Cotchin, Deledio, Ellis, Riewoldt, Nahas, Conca
Gold Coast: Ablett, Bennell, Stanley, McKenzie, Matera, Harbrow, Hunt

BEST - THE AGE
Richmond: Cotchin, Deledio, Nahas, Riewoldt, Houli, Ellis
Gold Coast: Ablett, Bennell, McKenzie, Harbrow, Shaw, Hunt

COACHES COMMENTS
Damien Hardwick (Rich): It was like God was conspiring against us having Karmichael take that mark. It's got nothing to do with the venue, we just haven't played well up here. The venue is (not) an excuse. At the end of the day Gold Coast played better than us.

Guy McKenna (GC): Of course we're losing [games], but it's actually teaching us how to win. Teaching these boys that if you hang on a bit harder, tackle a bit harder, compete a bit harder and actually put the opposition in some pressure situations we might have a chance [to win}.

Umpires: B Ryan, S McInerney, M Leppard