The Gold Coast defeated the Casey Demons 15.7 (97) to 13.10 (88) in a relentless battle at People First Stadium on Saturday to record its third win of the VFL season.

Outside midfielder Ben Jepson fired up the scoreboard first before the Demons came to play, kicking the next two goals. 

The SUNS bit back quickly with Ned Moyle (two goals, 39 hitouts) slotting his own major to wrap up the first quarter, before launching the next term with another goal, alongside StreetSmarts SUNS Academy prospect Jonah Harris. Zak Evans then kicked his first of three, setting the SUNS up with a 10-point lead at half time. 

Sean Lemmens was the SUNS’ major ball winner at half-back, tallying 18 of his 25 touches before half-time. Nick Holman’s trademark pressure bolstered the forward line, amassing seven tackles in the first half alone.

Malcolm Rosas Jnr (one goal, 13 contested possessions) was a man on a mission, highlighted by a smaller 10 second mission straight after half-time. Bursting from the centre clearance, he fought off two Demons before snapping a superb goal on the run. 

Majors from Nelson Beikoff-Smart (23 disposals), David Swallow (30 disposals), Lachlan Gulbin, Jepson and Evans sent the Gold Coast into the final term with a 23-point buffer but there was no time to relax as the Demons turned up the heat with three unanswered goals, tightening the margin to just three points.

The next twenty minutes was a see-saw affair, but the SUNS weren’t going to let the Demons slip away. Evans snapped a goal over his shoulder before Zak O’Brien and Alex Davies 30 disposals) played their pivotal parts to seal a gritty nine-point win.

In his 150th game, Gold Coast captain James Tsitas was reliably impactful right across the field, tallying 20 disposals and 15 uncontested possessions. Leo Lombard (26 disposals) and Asher Eastham (22 disposals, seven intercept possessions) also impressed.

GOALS:

GOLD COAST: Evans 3, Jepson 2, Moyle 2, Enders 1, Harris 1, Rosas 1, Beikoff-Smart 1, Gulbin 1, Swallow 1, O’Brien 1, Davies 1.

CASEY DEMONS: Kentfield 3, Billings 3, Fullarton 2, Laurie 1,  Van Rooyen 1, Hardie 1, Culley 1, Craven 1.