GOLD Coast has battled their way to a 19-point win over Carlton to strike a hammer blow to the Blues’ AFL finals hopes.
The Suns were seeking a response to their thumping loss to Melbourne, and, after poor goalkicking plagued their first half, kicked into gear to prevail 11.10 (76) to 8.9 (57) at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.
The result piles more pressure on Blues coach David Teague while Coleman Medal leader Harry McKay was forced from the field with a right shoulder issue in the final term – though he returned to play out the game – and Sam Walsh limped off late.
Meanwhile, the Suns’ win was soured by a hamstring injury to Brandon Ellis, with the winger substituted for Jack Bowes in the second quarter.
Touk Miller overcame Matt Kennedy’s early tag to play a key hand in midfield (35 touches, two goals) while Noah Anderson (30 disposals) was busy throughout.
Sam Collins kept McKay to one goal, while Wil Powell (29 disposals) showed dare off half-back.
Defenders Jacob Weitering and Nic Newman (25 disposals) were ever-present for Carlton while Walsh and Jack Silvagni were industrious.
The Suns dominated early but only had Ellis’ opening goal to show for it, while Josh Honey proved Carlton’s unlikely answer up front – with two goals giving the Blues a 10-point advantage at quarter-time.
The Suns were lively in the second term but wastefulness around goal left them trailing by nine at halftime.
Gold Coast’s Joel Jeffrey snared his first AFL goal just after the main break and from there the Suns and Blues went toe-to-toe.
Veteran ruckman Zac Smith put the Suns in front late in the third term to set up a dramatic finish.
Ed Curnow booted the first goal of the fourth quarter but, with the game on the line, the desperate Suns turned up the heat.
Jacob Townsend caught Weitering holding the ball with a crunching tackle and kicked the first of three unanswered Gold Coast goals that sealed the result.
Powell kicked a remarkable banana goal from the boundary to ice the victory in the dying seconds.
(C) AAP 2021
GOLD COAST 1.4 3.8 7.9 11.10 (76)
CARLTON 3.2 5.5 6.8 8.9 (57)
Goals: Gold Coast: J Townsend 2 T Miller 2 A Sexton B Ellis B Fiorini J Corbett J Jeffrey W Powell Z Smith. Carlton: J Honey 2 C Curnow E Betts E Curnow H McKay J Martin J Silvagni.
Umpires: Jacob Mollison, Nathan Toner, Alex Whetton.
Venue: Marvel Stadium.
