Daniel Lloyd booted six goals and Harry Perryman ran riot as the GIANTS kept the door ajar for a top six finish with a comfortable 70-point victory over Gold Coast.

Both sides fielded inexperienced teams with just five and six AFL-listed players respectively, it was the GIANTS who produced the goods to run away 20.9 (129) to 9.5 (59) winners at Metricon Stadium.

Lloyd (37 disposals, eight inside 50s, six goals) and Perryman (43 disposals, 12 clearances) were simply brilliant in steering their side to victory, set up in the second term when they booted five goals to none.

That purple patch extended an 18-point quarter-time lead to 31 points at half-time.

The SUNS did their best to get back in the contest, but three goals to finish the third term from the GIANTS pushed the margin to a match-winning 49-point buffer at the final change.

Defender Jake Stein played an important role in defence for the GIANTS, whilst young gun Kieren Briggs shouldered the bulk of the ruck duties in the absence of Matt Flynn, amassing 59 hit-outs alongside 17 disposals and a goal.

Josh Schoenfeld led the way for the hosts with 41 disposals and eight clearances, whilst Brad Scheer (28 disposals, 10 tackles, two goals) and academy duo Brodie Foster (30 disposals) and Caleb Graham (two goals) shone throughout the contest.

The win lifts the GIANTS to equal sixth with Brisbane on the ladder with two rounds remaining, as the SUNS finals hopes hang by a thread.

Gold Coast needs to beat Brisbane next week to stay in the hunt. The GIANTS will tackle Sydney at Spotless Stadium.

 

Gold Coast SUNS v GIANTS at Metricon Stadium

GIANTS 5.3 10.4 14.5 20.9 (129)
GOLD COAST 2.3 5.3 6.4 9.5 (59)

GOALS – Giants: D Lloyd 6 Z Sproule 3 T Boyd 2 J Peatling E Cole D Addison S Driscoll K Briggs H Perryman M Wilson R Pollock J Stein. 
Gold Coast: B Scheer 2 C Graham 2 D Koenen 2 C Beaman E Baru K Boakye.
BEST – Giants: D Lloyd H Perryman J Stein W Clark E Cole K Briggs. 
Gold Coast: J Schoenfeld B Scheer B Foster C Graham.