By Michael Whiting
Gold Coast SUNS Brownlow medallist Gary Ablett has sustained a knee injury as the Sydney Swans solidified their spot in the top eight with a comprehensive 70-point win over the Suns at Metricon Stadium on Saturday night.
Ablett injured his knee mid-way through the opening quarter after landing awkwardly during a marking contest. He will have scans on Monday to determine the extent of the injury but it is believed he has damaged his medial ligament.
He hobbled off in the first quarter and went down to the GC SUNS dressing rooms for treatment.
Ablett returned to the field early in the second quarter with the right knee heavily strapped and went straight to the forward line but lasted just five minutes before being substituted by Luke Russell.
When Ablett went off the Swans were already in control and they did not relent.
They had to overcome their own problems, with Jude Bolton replaced just prior to the start of play by Luke Parker after hurting his knee in the Swans' warm-up.
Bolton will also undergo scans on Monday to assess the damage.
The Swans showed what a professional outfit they are, clinically putting away a GC SUNS team that tried hard but lacked polish.
The visitors led by 22 points at the first change courtesy of two goals to Sam Reid and two goal assists by Adam Goodes, and they dominated possession 115-93.
The Swans average 331 disposals per match - the lowest in the competition - but far outstripped that, finishing with 391.
The GC SUNS made a slight comeback in the second quarter and reduced the margin to 16 points after successive David Swallow goals from stoppages in their forward 50.
But the Swans turned on the power after half-time, kicking six goals to one and keeping the GC SUNS to their lowest score of the season.
With an inside 50 advantage of 63-39 and a number of missed set shots, they could have easily won by more.
Ryan O'Keefe (31 disposals) was tireless in the midfield, as was Jarrad McVeigh (27 and three goals).
QUARTER BY QUARTER
FIRST QUARTER
Inaccurate kicking cost both teams, although it hurt Gold Coast more and the GC SUNS went into quarter time with six behinds and just one goal. The Swans had five goals, one of which went to Luke Parker, who replaced Jude Bolton in after Bolton injured his knee in the warm-up. Parker's goal was his first in the AFL and increased his side's lead to 17 points. Gold Coast Suns captain Gary Ablett left the field in the 19th minute with a knee injury.
Sydney Swans 5.4 (34) Gold Coast SUNS 1.6 (12)
SECOND QUARTER
Ablett returned in the second quarter, his right knee heavily strapped, but his time on the field was short-lived with the GC SUNS subbing the star midfielder off in the tenth minute. Young Swan Sam Reid kicked his third, before David Swallow kicked two crumbing goals to have the GC SUNS within 16 points. However, their good work was undone when the Swans kicked three goals in five minutes and the margin blew out again.
Sydney Swans 9.7 (61) Gold Coast 3.6 (24)
THIRD QUARTER
Adam Goodes, after handing out several goal assists, opened the Swans account in the third with his first goal. It was the only goal of the quarter with both sides straying wide on several occasions. Sydney Swans were the worst culprits, kicking five points to add to the Goodes' goal. The GC SUNS looked like losing their second star in a night when Campbell Brown ran off, holding his arm and grimacing with pain. However, Brown returned later in the quarter.
Sydney Swans 10.12 (72) Gold Coast 3.9 (26)
FOURTH QUARTER
Jarrad McVeigh kicked his second for the Swans before Gold Coast kicked their first goal since the second quarter, courtesy of a mark and goal to Tom Lynch. Their celebration was short-lived as the Swans kicked the next four goals. McGlynn, McVeigh (his third), Goodes and Malceski all helped turn the game into a rout for the Swans.
Sydney Swans 15.16 (106) Gold Coast 4.12 (36)
Sydney Swans 5.4 9.7 10.12 15.16 (106)
Gold Coast 1.6 3.6 3.9 4.12 (36)
GOALS
Sydney Swans: Reid 3, McVeigh 3, Goodes 2, Parker 2, Jack, Malceski, McGlynn, Roberts-Thomson, Spangher
Gold Coast: Swallow 2, Iles, Lynch
BEST
Sydney Swans: O'Keefe, McVeigh, Parker, Jack, Reid, Richards, Goodes
Gold Coast: Swallow, Bennell, Harbrow, Iles
INJURIES
Sydney Swans: Craig Bird (knee) replaced in selected side by Jarred Moore. Jude Bolton (knee) replaced in selected side by Luke Parker.
Gold Coast: Gary Ablett (knee), Josh Fraser (foot) replaced in selected side by Charlie Dixon. Matt Shaw (general soreness) replaced in selected side by Hayden Jolly.
SUBSTITUTES
Sydney Swans: Jarred Moore replaced by Lewis Jetta in the third quarter
Gold Coast: Gary Ablett replaced by Luke Russell in the second quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Vozzo, Leppard, Jennings
Official crowd: 16,488 at Metricon Stadium
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of the clubs or the AFL.
