A nine goal haul to former West Coast and Richmond player Mitch Morton proved to be too much for the NEAFL SUNS to overcome as they were beaten by 31 points by the Sydney Swans at Metricon Stadium today.
The SUNS got off to the perfect start, with Josh Fraser goaling within the first minute of the match, but it was the Swans who finished off the better and went to the break leading by 10 points.
The SUNS came out firing in the second quarter, and kicked the first four goals to take the lead, only for the Swans to respond and maintain their quarter time buffer.
Both teams kicked four goals each in the third quarter, and the 10 point margin from quarter time remained at the final change.
After three tight quarters of footy, the floodgates opened in the final quarter as the Swans piled on eight goals to four to record a comfortable 20.11 (131) to 15.10 (100) victory.
The final margin was not a true reflection of the contest, and Hart believes the effort was there, but the more mature bodies of the Swans were able to finish off and punish the SUNS sloppy ball use.
"We still continued to have a crack (in the last quarter) but we probably just ran out of legs a bit, it looked like they (the Swans) were running on top of the ground compared to us," he said.
"We probably unfortunately wasted our opportunities with a bit of over possession and an inability to finish our good work."
"(Our) turnover caused a lot of goals for Sydney today, and they were very good to catch us out as soon as we didn't execute in offence well enough; they made us pay."
Despite Morton's bag of goals, Hart was still satisfied with the performance of his defensive group, and that it was all part of the development and education process.
"We had a lot of young players playing today, and a few of them were playing down back, not that they were directly on him.
The scoreboard is one thing, but for us, trying players and testing them in different spots is another thing.
"Sometimes you have got to hold on. We need to test them (our players) so when it comes around again they can learn to be resilient."
"I thought the effort generally by the guys was fantastic, and I'll be interested when I do the review to see how many of his goals were from turnovers."
"That might be a story of just how dangerous it is when you can't use the footy well enough."
With Mark Seaby absent for the Swans, ruck duo Tom Nicholls and Tom Hickey were able to give the SUNS midfield first use, and Hart was pleased to see the two men take their advantage with both hands.
"I think they were much better today, they had an advantage and took that advantage and marked and palmed the ball well," he said.
Hart rattled off eight players as better players in the match.
"Aaron Hall and Sam Iles; Kyal Horsley and Andrew McQualter. The two ruckmen, then probably Hayden Jolly as well. They were in my best," he said.
"Jeremy Taylor was probably well up there."
Despite the loss, favourable results sees the SUNS remain in fifth position, with two rounds remaining.
The SUNS will have a week off next week, before regrouping for a must win clash with the Giants, which will be a curtain raiser to the SUNS VS Giants Saturday twilight match at AFL level.
GOLD COAST SUNS 2.2 7.4 11.6 15.10 (100)
SYDNEY 3.6 8.8 12.10 20.11 (131)
GOALS
Josh Fraser 3, Jeremy Taylor 3, Lewis Moss 2, Alik Magin 2, Sam Iles, Aaron Hall, Piers Flanagan, Hayden Jolly, Kyal Horsley.
BEST
Aaron Hall, Sam Iles, Tom Hickey, Tom Nicholls, Kyal Horsely, Andrew McQualter, Hayden Jolly, Jeremy Taylor.
