In a tough and scrappy affair, the Gold Coast SUNS have outworked Essendon to hold on for a thrilling two-point win at Metricon Stadium on Saturday night.
 
Inaccuracy in front of goal was the theme of the night for Rodney Eade’ side, with Gold Coast missing a handful of gettable chances before eclipsing the Bombers 14.13 (97) to 14.11 (95).
 
Swingman Sam Day was carried from the ground on a stretcher late in the third quarter after a sickening clash with Mark Baguley in a marking contest. The Bombers hip collided with Day’s face in an aerial contest, drawing the game to a halt for minutes.
 
Early indications are that Day has avoided serious injury to his neck, but he has been taken to hospital for a precautionary scans to determine the full extent of the collision.
 
The resurgence of Aaron Hall continued for another week with the utility gathering an equal game-high 31 possessions, 16 contested possessions, 13 inside 50s and eight clearances.
 
For the fifth consecutive week, Hall equalled or bettered his personal best possession haul to underpin his value as a midfielder.
 
A depleted Gold Coast engine room battled gallantly once again, with Hall and Michael Rischitelli (23 possessions) leading the way, and Brandon Matera relishing increased exposure to the middle of the ground.
 
Matera spent the bulk of the night on the wing where he used his pace and polish to produce one of the best games of his season with 23 possessions and six marks.
 
The SUNS were wasteful throughout the entire encounter with Tom Lynch and Jack Martin the two main culprits with three behinds apiece. The pair both kicked three goals to be strong contributors, but missed shots they should have taken, as well as a couple that didn’t register a score.
 
GOLD COAST      5.3   9.5   12.7   14.13 (97)
ESSENDON         4.1   7.7   11.7   14.11 (95)
 
GOALS
Gold Coast: Martin 3, Lynch 3, Bennell 2, Shaw 2, Russell, Malceski, Hall, Day Essendon: Hooker 3, McKernan 3, Heppell 3, Fantasia 2, Dempsey 2, Laverde
 
BEST
Gold Coast: Hall, Matera, Kolodjashnij, Lynch, Martin, Lonergan, Shaw.
Essendon: McKernan, Heppell, Stanton, Hooker, Hurley, O'Brien

INJURIES
Gold Coast: Day (neck) Essendon: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Gold Coast: Josh Hall replaced Sam Day at three-quarter time Essendon: Orazio Fantasia replaced Joe Daniher in the third quarter

Reports: Nil

Umpires: O'Gorman, Chamberlain, Edwards

Official crowd: 16,253 at Metricon Stadium