Round 8 – Gold Coast Suns Vs Melbourne and the Dees Reduce The Sun’s Glare

by Liam Chambers – our correspondent in Coffs Harbour

Another week another win. I could get used to this. The good news is we’re winning the games we should be winning which was not always the case in previous seasons. Carlton next week should be a win and then we have 3 tough rounds which will be the real test. I’m savoring the good times for now. Long may they last.

The game got off to a flying start and before I had time to pour myself a glass, the Suns had scored the first goal courtesy of Jack Martin. Despite controlling the majority of the play the Dees could only manage three behinds in the first ten minutes before young gun Charlie Spargo kicked Melbourne’s opener. Tom McDonald scored a minute later after some great play from captain Nathan Jones. Aaron Young evened it up for the Suns with another in the sixteenth minute before Tom added his second five minutes later thanks to a wayward kick from Jack Martin.

Martin made amends three minutes later though when he scored again for the Suns. Though the scores were fairly even, the Dees were getting much more of the ball and Alex Neal-Bullen added his name to the score sheet to make it four for Melbourne. That was to be the last goal of the opening quarter and despite the Sun’s Alex Sexton’s best effort on the siren, the scores remained 23-29.

The Demons superior play went unrewarded and it was the Suns again who scored the first goal with Steven May slotting home followed by Alex Sexton two minutes later. It was a frustrating quarter for Demon’s fans who could only watch their team dominate play but fall behind to Gold Coast on the score board. Never fear though as Tom McDonald made it three from three on the stroke of seventeen minutes. Mitch Hannan then scored his first of the day swiftly followed by Tom again with his fourth. The Dees wrapped up the first half with Christian Salem kicking his first. Half time scores were 37-59.

Just to show he’s mortal, Tom McDonald scored his only behind of the day. Neal-Bullen got his second goal almost immediately to increase the Dee’s margin to 29 points. Sam Day hit back for the Suns but Max Gawn scored a minute later to cancel out the advantage. If Max isn’t careful people are going to expect a goal in every game he plays; not just dominating hitouts and marking efficiently. Next goal came from the brilliant Tom McDonald who notched up his fifth for the afternoon equaling his previous best when he kicked five against the Eagles last season; still brings a tear to my eye.

The Suns had their own high scorer in Jack Martin though, who got his third to keep Gold Coast’s hopes alive. Hopes which were further boosted when Nick Holman and Aaron Hall made it three unanswered goals in the latter half of the quarter. The Dees finally regained the initiative when Michael Hibberd got his only goal. Then Charlie Spargo added his second to ensure Melbourne finished the quarter with an increased margin taking the scores to 63-95.

It was looking very positive for Melbourne as the last quarter started and with back to back goals from Salem and Brayshaw (27 and 24 disposals respectively) the Dees could now focus on building up their all important percentage. It was all Melbourne when Mitch Hannan got his second.

In case you were wondering where Jesse Hogan was all afternoon, wonder no longer as the great man stepped up to slot home his first of the day. Actually Jesse had covered an enormous amount of the ground contributing greatly to the Dee’s success in all quarters; he just decided to save his best till last. Jake “Milkshake” Melksham didn’t want to be left out and kicked one home.

The Sun’s Sam Day got a consolation after Mitch Hannan had scored his second but Jesse was just warming up and went on to score back to back goals in two minutes. The best player for the Suns, Jack Martin scored his fourth just before the final siren but it was a bitter sweet goal. The Demons were the eventual winners by a margin of 69 points. Final scores were 146-77.

We’re back at the MCG next week to play Carlton. Let’s keep the momentum going!

GOLD COAST: 3.5 – 5.7 – 9.9 – 11.11 (77)
MELBOURNE: 4.5 – 8.11 – 13.17 – 21.20 (146)
GOALS
Gold Coast: Martin 4, Day 2, Young, May, Sexton, Holman, Hall
Melbourne: T. McDonald 5, Hannan 3, Hogan 3, Neal-Bullen 2, Spargo 2, Salem 2, Gawn, Hibberd, Brayshaw, Melksham