Gold Coast Suns outclass the Swans, move into top eight

The newly dubbed "South" Coast Suns, who spent the past fortnight in Wollongong as part of sweeping changes brought into effect due to the COVID-19 crisis in Victoria, moved into the top eight with a 13.14 (92) to 9.6 (60) victory at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

In a see-sawing battle, Gold Coast were able to kick three unanswered goals in the final quarter to outlast the Swans.

Hugh Greenwood (23 disposals, nine clearances) and David Swallow (22 disposals, seven clearances) were inspirational in the middle while Sam Day, Izak Rankine and Lachie Weller kicked two goals apiece for the Suns.

For Sydney, Luke Parker was his usual brilliant self with 27 disposals and seven clearance in the absence of injured star Josh Kennedy, and Jake Lloyd picked up 24 possessions. Tom Papley, Aliir Aliir, Tom McCartin and Will Hayward booted two goals each.

Both sides looked lively in the opening quarter, however, poor skills led to plenty of turnovers.

After his classy debut last week, where he had 12 disposals and booted three goals, Rankine didn't waste much time making an impression on Saturday afternoon. He scored the Suns' opener when he toed through a goal from short range.

Gold Coast then extended their advantage after creating an overlap, with centre half forward Day setting up a flying Noah Anderson to score the goal.

While their skills lacked polish, the Swans continued to persevere with clearance work - led by Parker - and defensive pressure. They were rewarded when McCartin took a strong pack mark and kicked truly to cut the deficit to seven points.

Both teams were showing grit through the middle, but poor execution let them down in the opening term.

However, a nice clearing kick from young Swan James Rowbottom lands in the arms of Aliir - swung to full forward in the first quarter - who he kicked truly to get Sydney within two points.

Despite a late chance for Nick Blakey, whose shot from the 50m arc fell short - the Suns led by 2.3 (15) to 2.1 (13) at quarter time.

Gold Coast were in red-hot form after the break, scoring the next four goals. The run began with Day, who was rewarded by his own inspiring smother to pick up the ball and bend home a goal.

Soon after, Darcy McPherson snapped truly and they continued to press hard when Day tapped the ball down to Alex Sexton, who dribbled through a goal.

Gold Coast's speed continued to prove too much for Sydney. A quick handball from Weller to Brandon Ellis set up Rankine, who handballed again to Weller and he kicked truly to give the Suns a 27-point lead.

However, the Swans won the following centre clearance and the game's momentum swung dramatically. McCartin mustered a strong contested mark and he kicked truly from long range.

Minutes later, Sydney had another, with Papley snapping home a goal from 20 metres out.

And the margin was then cut to just nine points when Aliir took a contested mark and booted the goal - his second of the day.

The Suns had a couple of late chances to score, but missed, holding on to a 6.7 (43) to 5.3 (33) advantage at half time.

The visitors started the third quarter strongly, winning the first clearance before Jack Lukosius kicked his first goal of the day.

But the Swans refused to give in. A quick handball by Rowbottom found Hayward in space, and he snapped the goal.

And, after their opponents had three straight behinds, Sydney made them pay with Ryan Clarke kicking a goal to cut the deficit to nine points.

But the Suns managed to settle, winning the battle in the middle and getting the ultimate reward when Ben King roosted home a goal.

Day then tapped the ball down to Weller inside 50 and he found space to nail the goal - his second - as the visitors took a 22-point lead.

Sydney continued to press hard and were rewarded. On a passage of play set up by Papley, it seemed only fitting that the talented no.11 finished off his work by kicking second goal to cut the margin to 16 points.

But, once again, Rankine was able to insert himself into the game. Ruckman Jarrod Witts tapped the ball down to Swallow, and his quick handball to Rankine saw him nail the goal.

The Swans won the next clearance and, with the clock ticking down to the break, Hayward kicked truly from near the 50m arc to cut the deficit to 10.13 (73) to 9.3 (57) at three-quarter time.

Neither side was able to grab the early ascendancy in the final term. As the contest see-sawed, there was a goal scoring drought for nearly half of the quarter.

Parker had appeared to inspire his teammates with a great smother in defence, however, the Swans turned the ball over again.

Gold Coast made them pay, with Touk Miller kicking long to the goal square where Day received a contentious free kick after a marking infringement. However, he made the most of the opportunity, nailing the goal as the Suns took a 21-point lead.

Papley mustered the next centre clearance and charged the ball inside 50m, but the Suns' defence was up to the task.

Gold Coast continued to absorb pressure and then made their opponents pay, with Swallow taking a strong mark and kicking truly to extend their lead to 12.14 (86) to 9.6 (60).

Nick Holman, in his 50^th AFL game, then put the icing on the cake with the third unanswered goal of the quarter after receiving a 50m penalty.

Gold Coast ran out winners by 32 points.