The Gold Coast SUNS have been defeated by the Southport Sharks at Fankhauser Reserve this afternoon.
The SUNS fairy-tale run through the finals series has ended at the hands of classy Southport outfit.
The Sharks ran out 28 points winners, in what was a tightly contested match for the majority.
With first year VFL Head Coach Jackson Kornberg at the helm, the SUNS played an exciting brand of football which resulted in the clubs first finals appearance.
Jack Bowes opened the scoring for the SUNS in the club’s first ever Preliminary Final.
Goals to Matt Conroy and Hewago Oea, helped the Gold Coast to a 12-point quarter time lead.
Rory Thompson and Mac Andrew proved a hard match-up for the Southport forwards, while Sam Flanders had plenty of the ball with 10 disposals in the term.
Flanders was enormous for the entire match and finished with 42 disposals, seven tackles and six clearances, to be the SUNS best for the afternoon.
Josh Corbett got the second quarter off to a blistering start with a goal inside the first three minutes.
The margin got out to 18 points before Southport mounted a comeback kicking four of the last five goals.
Oea was lively on the wing, in a quarter spent mostly in the Sharks’ forward half.
A six goal third quarter helped the SUNS to a six-point lead at the final break.
Three goals to Chris Burgess, turned the tide for the Gold Coast, he finished with four for the afternoon and continuing his goal-kicking streak.
Standout Ruckman Ned Moyle, started to get on top in the ruck battle in the third, allowing Flanders and Charlie Constable to win more ball at centre clearance.
Constable had one of his best games for the year with 40 touches and nine clearances.
Bowes played a brilliant hand across the ground providing potent entries inside the forward 50.
The fourth quarter started with two quick Southport goals to push the margin out to 12 points in the Sharks favour.
A Burgess major settled the SUNS as the match began to open up, both the Sharks and the SUNS failed to take their opportunities early in the term.
A string of late Southport goals opened the floodgates to push result beyond doubt.
The SUNS finished the season sixth on the ladder after the home and away rounds, before catapulting themselves to one win away from a grand final.
Gold Coast SUNS 3.2 6.2 12.3 13.3 (81)
Southport Sharks 1.2 6.9 9.15 12.25 (109)
Goals: Burgess 4, J. Corbett 2, Bowes, Conroy, Foggo, Oea, Sexton, Sharp, Tsitas
Best: Flanders, Constable, Burgess, Moyle, Bowes, Macpherson
