Sun's PB as clutch rookie delivers again in thriller; greats' call on ...
The Gold Coast Suns have held off a fast-finishing Western Bulldogs in a nail-biting seven-point win in Darwin, 13.6 (84) to 11.11 (77).
Trailing by 17 points at three-quarter time, the Dogs stormed home with three of the first fourth majors of the final period to get within a point before a clutch goal from Bailey Humphrey sealed a big Gold Coast victory.
It saw Gold Coast improve to 5-5 ahead of a second-straight game at TIO Stadium next week against Adelaide, while the 7-3 Dogs’ five-game winning streak was snapped as they were denied the opportunity to climb into the top four.
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QUARTER-BY-QUARTER MATCH REPORT
There were no late changes for either side, with Jy Farrar (Gold Coast) and Mitch Hannan (Bulldogs) the starting subs.
Bulldog Anthony Scott got free inside 50 to mark and kick a goal in the first three minutes of the game.
Soon after, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan pinned Will Powell with a massive tackle and put through the Dogs’ second major, while Bailey Williams added another in a hot start for Luke Beveridge’s side.
The Suns hit right back though with the next three goals including a brilliant connection from young midfielders Noah Anderson, Bailey Humphrey and Mat Rowell setting up a blistering finish from Ben Ainsworth.
Holman, who was tributing his 100th game to his late mother, kicked a goal after the quarter-time siren as he was mobbed by teammates to bring the Suns’ deficit back to two points, 4.3 (27) to 4.1 (25).
“This is a moment of high emotion for that young man,” Channel 7 caller Alister Nicholson said,
The Suns picked up where they left off in the second term, with Jack Lukosius kicking the opener to give them the lead.
Lukosius kicked his second goal in the term after streaming free into the goalsquare to make it a nine-point Suns lead.
“This is a stark change in the direction of the game. The Bulldogs absolutely flew out of the blocks,” Nicholson noted.
Marcus Bontempelli was having a huge game in the midfield including a classy move setting up a Ugle-Hagan set shot, but the gun foreword couldn’t convert his opportunity.
Ainsworth set up a brilliant soccer volley goal to Lukosius, crossing a ball to the goalsquare as the former booted it through.
“It’s World Cup soccer in Darwin! A volley to remember,” Nicholson exclaimed. “That was a classic cross and a neat finish.”
Lukosius added a fourth goal by half-time as the Suns went in with a 22-point advantage, 8.3 (51) to 4.5 (29).
Caleb Daniel booted the opening goal of the second half after catching Powell for holding the ball deep in the Dogs’ forward line.
The Dogs crept closer after Naughton goaled from point-blank range despite appearing to push Charlie Ballard in the back in a dubious non-call.
But these Suns were up for the fight, with Holman booting his second goal despite getting pushed as he kicked it and Lukosius converting his equal career-high fifth major.
Gold Coast took a 16-point lead into three-quarter time, 11.5 (71) to 8.6 (54).
Rowell booted the opening goal of the fourth quarter to extend the Suns’ lead to 22 as Stewart Dew’s side could sniff victory.
The Dogs found something late though, with Ugle-Hagan kicking a crucial goal — and celebrating accordingly with Arthur Jones — inside the last seven minutes to make it a seven-point game.
Cody Weightman followed with the next major to cut his team’s deficit to one point.
Bailey Humphrey however would get the last laugh, kicking a clutch goal and going nuts with his celebration thereafter as the Suns held on in a thrilling finish.
THE 3-2-1- ...
3. EMERGING SUNS COME OF AGE IN STARRING PERFORMANCES
Jack Lukosius and Matt Rowell were both central to this big Suns win in what’d no doubt put a smile on Stuart Dew’s face.
After playing in a variety of roles early in his career, the 22-year old Lukosius has finally found a home up forward for the Suns.
The former Pick 2 exploded with four goals in the second quarter against the Dogs in a remarkable burst to help surge Gold Coast ahead.
It included a brilliant soccer-like volley goal in the goalsquare after a timely cross from Ben Ainsworth.
“He’s had a good season, he’s settled now as a forward,” Bulldogs legend Brad Johnson said of Lukosius on Fox Footy at half-time.
“He’s 195cm, so he’s a tall guy. He’s difficult to play on, he moves well, he’s not bad overhead and he’s got the class to do it in the goalsquare as well with some good moves.”
Indigenous footy legend Eddie Betts also gave full credit to Lukoius for settling in attack.
“We think, where are the goals going to come from? You’ve got Ben King and Levi Casboult down there,” he said on Fox Footy.
“And Lukosius has been all over the ground … and now gone forward and ended up kicking four goals in a half. It was unbelievable.”
Meanwhile Rowell, 21, was also huge in one his best performances for the season including a monster third quarter.
The former Pick 1 accumulated 11 disposals, nine contested to go with three score involvements and seven clearances in the period to lead the charge for his team.
Rowell finished with 29 disposals, 23 contested, 16 clearances, one goal and seven tackles in a mammoth showing.
“(The Suns) started to play a forward half game on the back of Matty Rowell and his work in the middle,” Johnson added.
“Up against (Tom) Liberatore at times, he loves the body contact and he’s fierce in that.
“He really did stand up for the Gold Coast Suns.”
2. ... BUT GUN ROOKIE DELIVERS AGAIN WITH CLUTCH GOAL FOR ‘FIERECE’ SUNS
While Lukosius and Rowell both had massive performances, Bailey Humphrey was the clutch hero for the Suns when they needed it.
Continuing on from his strong form in recent weeks, the gun Suns rookie stepped up for his side with a crucial goal with just over two minutes left in the game.
It snapped a streak of three-straight Dogs goals and ultimately clinched a big win for Stewart Dew’s side.
But as impressive as some of the individuals were, this was a true team performance from the Suns.
Overcoming a 20-point deficit early, Gold Coast was the much better side from midway through the first quarter.
The Suns’ dominance in contested possessions (158-141) and tackling (71-57) was a key feature on the night as it constantly outhunted – and outworked – the Dogs.
“For the Suns, it is the collective, they’ve been fierce around the ball – they’ve outackled the Dogs all night, they’ve been really competitive in that phase of the game,” Bulldogs legend Brad Johnson said on Fox Footy.
“But not just the midfielders, all over the ground.”
1. GREATS’ CALL ON ‘BEST IN THE COMP’ BONT
Although the Dogs didn’t get the win — and he may have to settle for only one or two votes given Rowell and Lukosius’ huge games — the ‘Brownlow Bont’ hype remains alive and well.
When he’s on, Bontempelli is seemingly on another level to any other player, with his brilliant class on full display against the Suns with several death touches.
He finished with 27 possessions, 14 contested, to go with nine clearances and 11 tackles.
It was perhaps all the more impressive considering the slippery conditions in Darwin to draw huge praise from Fox Footy pundits.
“(Bontempelli) just shows he’s a class above most of these players, with his cleanliness and burst through the pack,” Blues and Crows great Eddie Betts said on Fox Footy at half-time.
“I wonder who is going to him? Who is actually going to Bont? Put body work on him and stop his run to make it a lot harder.
“The one where he comes through, one-handed pickup and hit mark (to Ugle-Hagan), you can’t stop that.”
Bulldogs legend Brad Johnson noted the Suns were rotating different players on him instead of applying a tag.
“I think they’re flowing through the Gold Coast mids and going head-to-head,” he said.
“I think Swallow is trying his best at times to get to him, but he’s just so strong.
“He doesn’t get brought to ground too often.”
Betts added that Bontempelli’s play epitomised leadership, saying “that’s what you want from your leaders”.
“You saw Toby Greene do it today for GWS, he led the way. And now Bont, the captain of the football club, to lead the way like this,” he said.
“He needs more players to follow in his footsteps if the Bulldogs want to get over the line.”
Asked if he thinks Bontempelli is the best player in the competition, Betts said: “I think he is, I think he’ll be leading the Brownlow or close to it.”
Johnson added he thinks Port Adelaide’s Zak Butters would be leading the Brownlow, but believes Bontempelli is the game’s No. 1 player.
“Yeah, definitely, I think he is. With that class and step and the inability to tackle the guy, I think he’s the best in the comp.”
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