GOLD Coast teenager Alannah Welsh has put the competition on notice with a thrilling five-goal performance in her second game, spearheading a 35-point win against West Coast at Mineral Resources Park on Saturday.
Coming off a round one loss to the Western Bulldogs, and with nine second gamers in their team, the SUNS travelled west and stunned the Eagles with a high-pressure performance, winning 10.9 (69) to 5.4 (34).
They set up the win with a seven-goal-to-one first half, using their speed and athleticism to force turnovers and counter-attack before holding their ground against an improved Eagles team in a tighter second half.
It was a statement win that showed the new-look team will be a danger in 2026, with coach Rhyce Shaw's game plan clearly clicking as Gold Coast controlled possession and field position for long periods.
As well as Welsh, young Sun Ava Usher (two goals) was a constant threat, while experienced midfielder Charlie Rowbottom (26 disposals and six clearances) controlled stoppages.
Half-back Niamh McLaughlin (nine intercepts) was important behind the ball, with draftee Sunny Lappin showing her class with the ball and kicking the first goal of her career.
For West Coast, star midfielder Ella Roberts (24 and seven clearances) fought through a hard tag to have an influence alongside defender Emma Swanson (26 and seven marks).
The 0-2 Eagles will need to respond against Adelaide next week, however, to get their season rolling.
Gold Coast regained some experience ahead of Saturday's clash, with vice-captain Maddy Brancatisano and important defender Katie Lynch both returning, but it was the SUNS' youth that did maximum damage early.
Usher kicked her first career goal after some defensive brilliance from Havana Harris, with Welsh getting her first through a craft dribble kick as Gold Coast dominated field position in a bright start.
West Coast countered through Amy Franklin after a chasedown tackle, but the SUNS continued to attack with speed, applying great pressure and standing up in the contest, with Welsh kicking a second from the pocket to give Gold Coast a 14-point break at the first change.
The visitors made their big move in the second term, kicking four unanswered goals in a dominant 15-minute burst to open a game-high 38-point lead as Lily Quigley and Lappin got their first career goals.
The quarter was played almost exclusively in Gold Coast's front half, with the young SUNS dominating inside 50s (11-4) and then locking the ball in attack with their pressure.
It took some smart play from Kellie Gibson to set up West Coast's only goal for the term through Carlton recruit Keeley Skepper, cutting the margin to 33 points at the main break.
The Eagles lifted their intensity in the third and had much more of the play, but inefficiency with the ball and a lack of composure prevented them from making a dent in the margin as both teams kicked one goal apiece.
Young Sun's big moment
The best of Alannah Welsh's five goals came late in the first quarter when she gathered a loose ball in the pocket and confidently snapped on her right boot under pressure from a tight angle. The moment highlighted the second-gamer's class and confidence in a performance that mirrored that of opposition forward Lucia Painter in this match-up 12 months ago. Drafted with pick No.12 in the 2025 Draft, Welsh's agility and endurance was on show, competing hard and growing in confidence as she took it up to the Eagles' defenders. Her chemistry with the SUNS' nine second-gamers was clear in a performance that would have thrilled coach Rhyce Shaw.
Single focus gives Ella test
Eagles superstar Ella Roberts has the ability to be the AFLW's best player, and opposition teams need to put significant work in to nullify her influence. On Saturday, the SUNS approach was to use Lucy Single as a tagger, with the Gold Coast stopper going everywhere with Roberts in a tight-checking role and sacrificing her game to finish with seven disposals. Roberts, meanwhile, took the approach of working hard defensively, laying several crunching tackles and a big smother to have an influence on the game. She battled through the attention in a small win for the Eagles.
Next up
West Coast is back on the road next Saturday to take on Adelaide at Unley Oval, having lost its most recent clash against the Crows by 17 points in round nine last season. Gold Coast returns home and meets Geelong on Sunday at People First Stadium. It is the first clash between the teams since round four, 2024, which the Cats won by a commanding 69 points.
WEST COAST 1.1 2.3 3.3 5.4 (34)
GOLD COAST 3.3 7.6 8.6 10.9 (69)
GOALS
West Coast: Franklin 3, Skepper, Slocombe
Gold Coast: Welsh 5, Usher 2, Davies, Lappin, Quigley
BEST
West Coast: Swanson, Roberts, Franklin, Painter
Gold Coast: Welsh, Rowbottom, McLaughlin, Lappin, Davies, Usher
INJURIES
West Coast: Nil
Gold Coast: Nil
LATE CHANGES
West Coast: Charlie Thomas (illness) replaced in the selected side by Sarah Lakay
Gold Coast: Nil
Crowd: TBC at Mineral Resources Park
