Coast with the most: Suns turn tables on premiers Brisbane in crucial derby romp
Pinned post from 4.52pm
Suns turn tables on premiers in crucial Queensland romp
Gold Coast have shrugged Brisbane's Q-Clash chokehold and cemented their top-eight standing with a historic 66-point win.
The Suns had lost 12 of the past 13 Queensland derbies to the defending premiers.
But on Saturday, with a maiden finals berth on the radar, the hosts called the shots in a 20.10 (130) to 9.10 (64) romp at a wet People First Stadium.
Victory, in front of 20,833 fans, was the Suns' biggest over their local rivals, while their 12th win this season is a club-high.
Captain Noah Anderson (33 touches) did the early damage, while ruckman Jarrod Witts dominated, and coach Damien Hardwick's bold selection calls were vindicated.
Victory pushed the Suns (12-6), who have a game in hand, to seventh in a congested top eight, while the Lions (13-5-1) missed a chance to at least briefly occupy top spot.
Matt Rowell (37 touches, 14 clearances, 12 tackles) won the Marcus Ashcroft Medal, and the recalled Alex Davies (30 touches, 10 tackles) flipped the script on the usually dominant Lions midfield.
Jy Farrar (three goals) enjoyed his first AFL game since late 2023, Ben Long rediscovered his early-season form with four majors, and Bailey Humphrey (three goals, eight tackles) also shone.
The Lions' Ashcroft brothers Will and Levi were well held, while Lachie Neale, Josh Dunkley and Hugh McCluggage suffered a rare engine-room loss.
Victory gave the Suns a 2-1 record against the competition's top three sides in their past three games, Gold Coast now with just one top-eight opponent in their final five regular-season games.
Meanwhile, the premiers next travel to the MCG to face table-topping Collingwood as part of a tough run to September.
AAP
5.03pm
Saturday night lights
By Jon Pierik
Hello, and thanks for joining us tonight as Geelong and North Melbourne do battle at Marvel Stadium, while Port Adelaide and the Crows contest what shapes as another epic Showdown.
The Cats have their eyes on a top-four, even top-two finish, while the Kangaroos have had another horrible season, and face finishing last or second last for a sixth-straight season.
Power coach Ken Hinkley will be desperate for victory in his final Showdown, as the Crows look to continue the fine form which has Matthew Nicks and his men in premiership calculations.
As always, feel free to drop us a line as the evening unfolds.
4.52pm
Suns turn tables on premiers in crucial Queensland romp
Gold Coast have shrugged Brisbane's Q-Clash chokehold and cemented their top-eight standing with a historic 66-point win.
The Suns had lost 12 of the past 13 Queensland derbies to the defending premiers.
But on Saturday, with a maiden finals berth on the radar, the hosts called the shots in a 20.10 (130) to 9.10 (64) romp at a wet People First Stadium.
Victory, in front of 20,833 fans, was the Suns' biggest over their local rivals, while their 12th win this season is a club-high.
Captain Noah Anderson (33 touches) did the early damage, while ruckman Jarrod Witts dominated, and coach Damien Hardwick's bold selection calls were vindicated.
Victory pushed the Suns (12-6), who have a game in hand, to seventh in a congested top eight, while the Lions (13-5-1) missed a chance to at least briefly occupy top spot.
Matt Rowell (37 touches, 14 clearances, 12 tackles) won the Marcus Ashcroft Medal, and the recalled Alex Davies (30 touches, 10 tackles) flipped the script on the usually dominant Lions midfield.
Jy Farrar (three goals) enjoyed his first AFL game since late 2023, Ben Long rediscovered his early-season form with four majors, and Bailey Humphrey (three goals, eight tackles) also shone.
The Lions' Ashcroft brothers Will and Levi were well held, while Lachie Neale, Josh Dunkley and Hugh McCluggage suffered a rare engine-room loss.
Victory gave the Suns a 2-1 record against the competition's top three sides in their past three games, Gold Coast now with just one top-eight opponent in their final five regular-season games.
Meanwhile, the premiers next travel to the MCG to face table-topping Collingwood as part of a tough run to September.
AAP
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