Australian Football

Match Report

Only three weeks ago, the Gold Coast Suns had never won a match at Docklands stadium. Now they have won two and look as comfortable as any of the home teams playing at the ground. The Suns followed up their impressive win against North Melbourne two weeks ago with a solid win against St Kilda, built in the back of a stunning eight goal to three first quarter.

That first quarter featured three goals to the "Little Master", Gary Ablett, and two each to Harley Bennell and Brandon Matera as the Suns running game left the Saints all at sea for much of the term. The Saints struggled again in the second term, their only goal coming at the 25-minute mark after amaro from veteran Farren Ray. Gold Coast kicked five goals of its in the same period, one each to Matera, Luke Russell, Ablett, Tom Lynch and David Swallowe, and at half time held a massive 57-point lead.

To their credit the Saints did not "roll over" in the second half and at various times in the third term almost looking like making a game of it. They added six goals for the term, two to skipper Nick Riewoldt, and cut the margin to 31 points at one stage but the Suns added the final goal of the term via Tom Lynch to take a comfortable 38-point lead into the final term.

St Kilda continued to fight it out in the final term, matching the Suns goal for goal during the quarter as each side added 3.2, with the Suns finishing 38 points to the good.

Gary Ablett once again played a starring role for Gold Coast, with 37 disposals and four goals, while David Swallow (28 possessions, seven marks) and Jaeger O'Mera (29 touches and eight tackles) were also very good for the victors. St Kilda was well served by veteran Lenny Hayes (32 disposals and six tackles) and youngster Jack Newnes (11 marks, 29 possessions).

The Suns are in rarified air, in fifth place with six wins and two losses and could even move in to the top four after round 10 with a win over the Western Bulldogs. The struggling young Saints will have a bye in round 10 before taking on Collingwood at Docklands in two weeks.

GOALS
St. Kilda: Riewoldt 3; Steven 2; Stanley, Ray, Schneider, Milera, Siposs, Newnes, Weller, Billings
Gold Coast: Ablett, Matera, Lynch 4; Bennell 3; Russell, Swallow, Day, Hall

BEST - SPORTAL.COM.AU
St Kilda: Hayes, Ray, Newnes, Dempster, Webster
Gold Coast: Ablett, O'Meara, Prestia, Swallow, Lynch

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
St. Kilda: Hayes, Steven, Newnes, Ray, Shenton
Gold Coast: Ablett, O'Meara, Prestia, Swallow, Lynch, Rischitelli

COACHES' COMMENTS
Alan Richardson (StK): There's no doubt that the guys' response after half time was a positive. Having said that, it's disappointing that when the game's up for grabs you get beaten so badly, particularly in the contest. When Gary [Ablett] is in that sort of form and they're getting first use, then you're a chance to get hurt and that was the case.

Guy McKenna (GCo): As an interstate club, when you do play interstate you want to get on top off the opposition early, quieten the crowd and do all those sorts of things. Certainly the boys started the first quarter really well and I thought the second quarter was really good. We were poor in the third quarter and finished off half okay in the last.

INJURIES
St. Kilda: Dempster (cut head), Acres (ankle), Delaney (hip)
Gold Coast: Lemmens (leg)

SUBSTITUTES
St. Kilda: Luke Delaney (hip) substituted out for Blake Acres in the fourth quarter.
Gold Coast: Sean Lemmens (leg) substituted out for Alex Sexton in the third quarter.

UMPIRES: Foot, Armstrong, Jeffery

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Fox Footy

COMMENTATORS: Anthony Hudson, Gerard Healy, Brad Johnson, Barry Hall