Gold Coast Suns fight till the final whistle against Richmond Tigers at Marvel Stadium. Despite an exhilarating close quarter of play, their comeback wasn’t enough to win the day. The match showcased the Suns’ struggle to convert dominance into goals, as they battled both their opponents and their own inconsistencies.
Richmond came out firing, opening an 8-2 lead with a run of six-straight goals. The Suns were able to find a way through with Touk Miller eventually getting Gold Coast on the score sheet. This moment was incredibly important for the game. It closed Richmond’s scoring streak and ignited a flicker of hope for the Suns.
The Suns had been floundering in the game, not executing well and missing plenty of plays/shots they normally would’ve made. Though they had the run of play with superior possession and inside 50 entries, they weren’t able to capitalize on their opportunities. Gold Coast had to settle for a score of 4.11 by the final whistle. At the same time, Richmond had stretched their advantage to 43 points, keeping chances alive.
A Thrilling Final Quarter
As the final term got underway, Gold Coast went on an electric run, scoring three goals in the span of four minutes. Sam Flanders and Ben Long—two Saints stars—both scored within the first minute of the closing quarter, putting their side back into the conversation. This unexpected jolt of intensity sent the Suns on a 30-point run and brought them within just a few points.
Richmond opened up with urgency though, with Jayden Short and Tim Taranto kicking two quick goals to extend their lead. The Tigers showed their premiership mettle, not allowing Gold Coast’s late quick attack to rattle their lead.
“We’ve been going well in patches, so, when we put four quarters together, the kids are exciting,” – Nick Vlastuin.
Once again in the closing minutes of the match, it was an all-out-scoring frenzy with both teams scoring goals within seconds of each other. The Suns kicked five unanswered goals in the last quarter, but it was not enough to overcome Richmond’s early dominance.
Struggles in Converting Possession
For most of the game, Gold Coast had the territory, possession, and attacking pressure but could not turn that superiority into scoreboard capital. The Suns entered inside 50 a remarkable 31 more times than Richmond. They concluded the game with just 3.11 on the board, showing a gross lack of execution that has been all too common for them this year.
Although they were bossing midfield in the first 45 minutes, their spell of command could not be turned into goals. From a scoring standpoint, their inability to complete chances became more troubling with each passing moment as the match continued. All-American captain John Noble spearheaded that stout collective defense, tallying 17 touches and making a number of them game-winning plays. Even with that, the Suns did not make the most of their geographic advantage.
Roaming free, Ben Long seized the opportunity and slotted an important major home. He took the poor drop of the ball right as it crossed Gold Coast’s forward 50. His third goal kept Gold Coast close as they tried to fight back into the match.
A Learning Experience for Gold Coast
While disappointing, the match provided as valuable a learning experience as possible for the Suns as they further develop their young talent. Even with the disappointment of just missing against a re-tooling Richmond team, there were long stretches of play that brightened the season ahead where the individual skill shined.
Their performance in the last quarter was a testament to their power to rally when it matters. It also exposed the team’s lack of more complete execution over the full course of the game. The Suns are going to have to figure out their offensive struggles if they want to be competitive against better teams in the next set of games.
