Australian Football

Match Report

Gold Coast has finally recorded a win for new coach Rodney Eade as the Suns defeated Brisbane in the "battle of the basement" at Carrara in Saturday's twilight match. The Lions again failed to win quarter and they have won only one term this year, their last quarter in round one against Collingwood. The Suns' first win of 2015 lifts them to 15th on the ladder, while Brisbane languishes at the foot of the ladder without a win so far this season.

The Suns hit the ground running, with goals to debutant Josh Glenn and Charlie Dixon inside the first five minutes of the match. Brisbane hit back soon after with majors to Daniel Rich and Harris Andrews but the rest of the first term was a dour affair with the teams trading only in behinds. At the first change, both sides were 2.3.15. The hapless Lions, who had welcomed back Tom Rockliff from broken ribs a week earlier, unfortunately lost him again only six minutes into the game after he was concussed in a heavy clash with the Suns' Steven May. 

Gold Coast dominated the second quarter, with Dixon, Tom Lynch and Alex Sexton all adding goals before Daniel McStay pulled one back for the Lions. Gold Coast led by 15 points at that point but the margin could have been much greater with the Suns also registering five behinds in that period. They straightened up to kick two further goals through Dion Prestia and Jack Martin before half time and Brisbane faced a 28-point deficit going into the long break.

The Lions' Dayne Zorko answered an early third-quarter goal from Harley Bennell, but the next five majors all went the way of Gold Coast, with two to Dixon and one each to Martin, Bennell and Brandon Matera. At the 25-minute mark of the quarter, the Suns led by a massive 57 points. The Lions to their credit rallied late in the term, kicking three of the last four goals, one to Zorko and two to Dayne Beams, to cut the lead to 36 points at the last change.

Brisbane's late third-quarter momentum disappeared at the last change of ends and the last term was dominated by Gold Coast, Dixon (two), Lynch and Sean Lemmens combining to add four goals for the quarter, to which the Lions could respond with only four behinds. When the final siren sounded to put the Lions out of their misery, the Suns were 64 points clear, giving coach Rodney Eade reason to smile at last.

Bennell was a standout for Gold Coast, with 31 disposals and seven marks, while Dixon (six goals, seven marks) and Prestia (28 possessions, one goal) were also excellent. Brisbane's best included Dayne Beams (31 touches and six marks) and Stefan Martin (42 hitouts, 24 disposals).

With a win under their belt, the Suns will look to make it two in a row when they host Adelaide at Carrara next Saturday, while Brisbane will travel to Melbourne to face Carlton at Docklands in search of their first win.

GOALS
Gold Coast: Dixon 6; Lynch 3; Bennell, Martin 2; Glenn, Matera, Lemmens, Sexton, Prestia 
Brisbane: Zorko, D.Beams 2; Rich, McStay, Andrews

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Gold Coast: Bennell, Dixon, Miller, Martin, Saad, Prestia
Brisbane: D.Beams, Martin, Redden, Zorko, Robinson, Rich

BEST - BRISBANETIMES.COM.AU
Gold Coast: Bennell, Dixon, Prestia, Martin, Harbrow, Rischitelli
Brisbane:Martin, D Beams, Redden, Robinson, Rich, Adcock

INJURIES
Gold Coast: Thompson (hip) replaced in selected side by Tape; Garlett (ankle); Tape (knee)
Brisbane: Rockliff (concussion, jaw); Staker (hamstring)

SUBSTITUTES
Gold Coast: Lemmens replaced Garlett in the first quarter
Brisbane: Bewick replaced Rockliff in the third quarter

UMPIRES: Deboy, Kamolins, McInerney

MARCUS ASHCROFT MEDAL: Charlie Dixon (Gold Coast)

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Fox Footy

COMMENTATORS: Dwayne Russell, Alastair Lynch, Jonathan Brown, Cameron Mooney