The Gold Coast SUNS have won both local derbies for the year, running away 58-point winners against a physical Southport Sharks.
The SUNS withstood a determined Southport outfit to win 14.14 (98) to 6.4 (40) in a low-scoring affair at Fankhauser Reserve.
Southport were in striking distance for the majority of the match, but a set shot at goal that hit the post late in the third quarter proved costly.
The Sharks were down by 18-points at the time, and had a chance to cut the lead to 12-points.
Instead the ball hit the woodwork and Gold Coast kicked the next two goals to lead by 30 at three-quarter time.
The SUNS were able to continue the momentum into the fourth quarter to close the game out, proving too good for the Sharks in the end.
Southport gave the Gold Coast SUNS coaches a lot to think about for most of the day though.
“We felt like we had to work on a few things at half-time and we fixed our structure as well as our ball use, and we were a lot better,” Gold Coast coach Stephen Daniel said.
“We always knew it was going to be a challenge because it doesn’t matter where Southport are on the ladder, they will always give you a real game.
“Obviously, we are really happy to win though.”
With a few injuries during the week, the SUNS only had 11 AFL-listed players run out.
“The academy kids stood up really well. Koenen in his first game and Nutting down back were outstanding,” Daniel said.
Southport were also hampered by injury, with defender Jonathon Croad injuring his elbow in the first 10 minutes of the match, forcing the side to play with 22 for the remainder of the match.
Nick Crowley was very good down back in Croad’s absence though, rebounding the ball out of defensive 50 on six occassions.
In the midfield, the battle between both teams was intriguing. The battle in the midfield between Jordan Keras (34 disposals) and Andrew Boston (36 disposals) for Southport and Mitch Hallahan (36 disposals) for Gold Coast was exceptional to watch.
“Southport’s midfield is as good as anyone in the competition and Mitch was terrific again, our whole midfield was good,” Daniel said.
“Max Spencer was also really good down back but in the end we had 22 contributors, which I was really happy with.”
The SUNS will now look forward to playing a rejuvenated GIANTS back at Metricon Stadium next week, while Southport play NT Thunder in Darwin.
Southport Sharks v Gold Coast SUNS at Fankhauser Reserve
GOLD COAST 4.5 5.7 9.9 14.14 (98)
SOUTHPORT 3.1 4.2 5.3 6.4 (40)
GOALS
Gold Coast: J Schoenfeld 3, J Grant 2, K Sheers, 2 S Davidson, 2 W Brodie, M Hallahan, D Currie, B Crossley, C Portelli
Southport: J Baxter 2. H Shepheard. 2 D Budarick, B Erickson
BEST
Gold Coast: J Joyce, M Spencer, M Hallahan, B Scheer, T Nicholls, D Koenen
Southport: A Boston, N Crowley, S Tape, F Thurlow, B Chadwick, S Watson
