Australian Football

Match Report

Gold Coast has recorded its second win of the season, comfortably defeating Greater Western Sydney at Manuka in Canberra on Saturday. The win would have been a relief to Suns' coach Guy McKenna, as GWS had defeated them in the corresponding match in 2012 to record their first-ever AFL win.

The match was a high-scoring affair with both sides scoring over a 100 points. The two teams played out an even first quarter, and scores were level at 3.3 apiece at the first change. Gold Coast was able to make a decisive break in the second term, kicking seven goals to four. The Giants mounted a challenge in the third quarter, outscoring the Suns five goals to three but the Suns were able to go on with the job in the last quarter, kicking eight goals to coast to a 44-point victory.

Charlie Dixon had a break-out match for the Suns, kicking six goals and having 16 possessions. First-season player Jaeger O'Meara and Gary Ablett were also excellent. For the Giants, captain Callan Ward (31 disposals) again led from the front, while Devon Smith and Dylan Shiel were also excellent.

The Giants have a very tough assignment in round six, coming up against the undefeated Essendon, while the Suns would give themselves some chance in a home match against Fremantle. They came very close to toppling the Dockers in the corresponding match last year.

GOALS
GWS: Cameron, O'hAilpin, Smith 3; Palmer 2; Coniglio, Shiel, Scully, Tomlinson, Bugg
Gold Coast: Dixon 6; Smith, O'Meara, Ablett 3; Lynch 2; Prestia, May, Stanley, Brennan

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
GWS: Ward, Smith, Palmer, Shiel, Cameron, O'hAilpin
Gold Coast: Dixon, O'Meara, Ablett, Shaw, Lynch, Harbrow, Smith

BEST - HERALD SUN
GWS: Ward, Smith, Shiel, O'hAilpin, Palmer
Gold Coast: Dixon, O'Meara, Ablett, Smith, Swallow

COACHES' COMMENTS
Kevin Sheedy (GWS): We're still getting 16 goals. We missed a few that we should get in regard to poor decisions that we make during a game but, to be honest, Gold Coast played pretty well today. They had a lot more chances and full credit to them because they're a much more experienced team than us at the moment.

Guy McKenna (Gold Coast): The boys are fast understanding that this competition is brutal and you need to be brutal. I thought between the three big boys - Charlie Dixon, Tommy Lynch and Steven May - we got some reward for effort.

INJURIES
GWS: Nil
Gold Coast: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
GWS: Tom Bugg replaced Adam Tomlinson (tactical) at three-quarter time
Gold Coast: Jack Hutchins replaced Aaron Hall (tactical) during the third quarter

UMPIRES: Schmitt, Armstrong, Mitchell