Right at home in stellar victory
Gold Coast snapped its twogame losing streak and continued a flawless home record this year with a 53point thumping of a ho-hum Hawthorn at People First Stadium on Saturday night.
The Suns suffocated Hawthorn’s midfield and dominated in almost every facet of the contest to win 16.13 (109) to 8.8 (56) and move to 3-2 this season.
After running premiership fancy GWS tight for three quarters last weekend before falling away, the Suns made sure to keep their foot on the throat against the Hawks in a statement win.
Gold Coast’s on-ballers put their Hawks counterparts to shame.
Noah Anderson (36 disposals, six clearances) had more touches than James Worpel(14), Jai Newcombe (10)and Josh Ward (6) combined.
He was well-accompanied by the usual suspects in the Suns’ engine room – Touk Miller (28 disposals, five clearances) and Matt Rowell (23 disposals, five clearances and a goal).
Sam Flanders (33 disposals) starred across halfback for the second straight week.
Spearhead Ben King returned to form booting 4.4, super sub David Swallow bagged three final-quarter goals, while young guns Jed Walter, Ethan Read and Sam Clohesy kicked multiple majors.
After a gallant fourthquarter comeback against Collingwood a week earlier, the Hawks burned up all their goodwill with an insipid display on the Gold Coast.
Examples of the visitors’ lack of effort were a dime a dozen on Saturday night but a key moment late in the third quarter will be replayed on repeat by coach Sam Mitchell during the week.
Three Hawks defenders circled a loose ball deep in defensive 50 and watched as a desperate Tom Berry willed himself on to the footy and slapped it into the goal square for Ethan Read to turn home like Cristiano Ronaldo and put the Suns up by 40 points.
Unlike their recent fourthquarter fade-outs, the Suns stayed true to their relentless pressure to kick away in the final term. They will head to Sydney next weekend full of confidence and ready to again test their credentials against a would-be finals opponent.