Australian Football

Match Report

Before this season began the Gold Coast Suns were being touted as a top four chance, while not many expected GWS to get close to the top eight. Four weeks into the season, after the Giants trounced the Suns by 66 points - the biggest win of their brief existence - it's GWS who sit in second place, while the Suns languish in second-last position, without a win and ahead only of their Queensland neighbours Brisbane. The Giants put in a solid four-quarter performance, winning all terms, to take a 3-1 record into round five.

The Suns started the game well, with a major to Jack Martin inside the first two minutes but the Giants controlled the remainder of the first quarter, with goals to Adam Treloar (two), Cam McCarthy and Devon Smith kicking the next four goals. At quarter time, it was GWS with a 20-point advantage.

Gold Coast again started off with a goal in the second term, this time to David Swallow. Brandon Matera followed up with another one at the seven-minute mark and the Suns were back in the match, trailing by only eight points. But GWS again produced a run of four consecutive goals to reinstate its authority. Three of those goals were to McCarthy, who was wreaking havoc on the forward line, the other going to Jeremy Cameron. Harley Bennell pegged one back for the Suns just before half time, but it was the Giants by 26 at the long  break.

Charlie Dixon made it three quarters in a row for the Suns, kicking the first goal of the third term before GWS also repeated its efforts from quarters one and two, kicking the next four goals, via Toby Greene, Cameron, Dylan Shiel and James Stewart. The three-quarter time siren saw Gold Coast a distant 52 points behind the Giants, 90 to 38.

Things got no better for the Suns in the last quarter. They managed only two goals, through Dixon and Zac Smith, while GWS kicked four for the fourth quarter in a row, with Smith kicking his second, Cameron his third and fourth, and McCarthy his fifth. The final margin was 11 goals, and this was probably a fair reflection of the difference between the two sides on the day.

Shiel was outstanding for the Giants, with 39 disposals and five tackles, while McCarthy (five goals, six marks) and Stephen Coniglio (27 touches and five tackles) were also excellent. The Suns' best included Michael Rischitelli (31 possessions, seven tackles), Dion Prestia (29 disposals, two tackles) and David Swallow (eight tackles, 20 touches) were able to hold their heads up high for Gold Coast.

The Giants next task is a tough one, a trip to Subiaco to take on West Coast on Saturday, while the Suns will take on their winless neighbours Brisbane on the same day, with bottom place the "reward" for the loser.

GOALS
GWS: McCarthy 5; Cameron 4; Treloar, Smith 2; Stewart, Greene, Shiel
Gold Coast: Dixon 2; Martin, Swallow, Matera, Bennell, Smith

BEST - SMH.COM.AU
GWS: Shiel, McCarthy, Mumford, Cameron, Haynes, Ward, Davis, Coniglio
Gold Coast: Rischitelli, Swallow, Prestia

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
GWS: Shiel, Coniglio, Treloar, McCarthy, Cameron, Mumford, Griffen
Gold Coast: Prestia, Rischitelli, Swallow, Miller

INJURIES
GWS: Seb Tape replaced in selected side by Tom Nicholls
Gold Coast: Martin (ankle), Lemmens (hip)

SUBSTITUTES
GWS: Josh Kelly replaced Lachie Whitfield at three-quarter time
Gold Coast: Matt Shaw replaced Jack Martin in the third quarter

UMPIRES: Foot, Schmitt, Kamolins

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Fox Footy

COMMENTATORS: Matthew Campbell, Tony Shaw, Brad Johnson