Saturday’s third AFL Round 8 match is between Gold Coast Suns and Western Bulldogs with the game to be played at Metricon Stadium. The opening bounce is set to commence at 4:40pm local time with home team Gold Coast Suns currently holding favouritism. View our AFL live scores, odds and results for the game between Gold Coast Suns and Western Bulldogs.
WHERE AND WHEN: Metricon Stadium, Saturday May 18, 4:40pm
Preview:
The Gold Coast Suns play the Western Bulldogs on Saturday, 4.40pm at Gold Coast Stadium. This will be a fairly close encounter, with the Gold Coast only out of the eight by percentage and slight favourites at home. While the Dogs seem to be trying hard in 2013, they simply don’t have the skills, or the players, to worry most teams. The Suns will be extra keen to win this round, seeking consecutive wins for the first time in their history and momentum for the remainder of 2013 as the ladder stretches out.
Teams:
Gold Coast Suns:
B: Trent McKenzie, Sam Day, Danny Stanley
HB: David Swallow, Rory Thompson, Greg Broughton
C: Matt Shaw, Gary Ablett, Jarrod Harbrow
HF: Harley Bennell, Thomas Lynch, Jesse Lonergan
F: Brandon Matera, Stephen May, Aaron Hall
Foll: Zac Smith, Jaeger O’Meara, Dion Prestia
Int: Jack Hutchins, Campbell Brown, Jared Brennan, Luke Russell
Emerg: Tom Nicholls, Clay Cameron, Tim Sumner
In: Russell
Out: Murphy
Western Bulldogs:
B: Jason Johannisen, Jordan Roughead, Dale Morris
HB: Adam Cooney, Tom Young, Brett Goodes
C: Clay Smith, Matthew Boyd, Ryan Griffen
HF: Robert Murphy, Liam Jones, Daniel Cross
F: Luke Dahlhaus, Jake Stringer, Daniel Giansiracusa
Foll: Will Minson, Liam Picken, Tom Liberatore
Int: Lukas Markovic, Koby Stevens, Jack Macrae, Nick Lower
Emerg: Mitch Wallis, Tom Williams, Tom Campbell
In: Goodes, Stevens, Stringer, Macrae
Out: Addison, Austin, Tutt, Wallis
Suns heap more AFL pain on Demons
Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna described Sunday’s 10-goal thumping of Melbourne as a milestone day for the AFL club after the Suns tasted victory for the first time at the MCG.
The Suns scored their maiden win on Victorian soil in their 10th attempt, crushing the Demons 16.18 (114) to 7.12 (54).
Skipper Gary Ablett was superb with 38 possessions while lively youngster Harley Bennell was another star contributor and Zac Smith and Campbell Brown booted three goals each.
The 17th-placed Demons delivered a lacklustre performance which increases the pressure on coach Mark Neeld to hold his job. The home side did not score a goal until the second term.
Colin Sylvia’s late hit on Gold Coast’s Jared Brennan – a forearm to the head which left Brennan in a neck brace being taken off on a motorised cart – summed up a poor day for the Demons.
Demons supporters immediately started booing Sylvia, who was placed on report.
The 13th-placed Suns notched their third win for 2013 and are likely to start favourites on Saturday at Metricon Stadium against 16th-placed Western Bulldogs.
Gold Coast’s five-goal barrage in the opening term yielded a 33-point lead at the first change.
McKenna – a premiership player with West Coast in the 1990s – said it took the Eagles several years to score their first win at the MCG.
“So to do that in three years is sort of a milestone because we understand the challenge of an interstate side to come here and play your good footy because this is where it counts,” McKenna said.
“Clearly it’s not September yet but to come off the MCG confident and know you can win here is a good step for the young group.”
McKenna said the Suns showed resilience in the last term to be outscored by only two points with Brennan and Tom Murphy off the field nursing concussion injuries.
“From all reports both boys are up and walking around,” McKenna said.
“Fingers crossed for next week.”
The Suns led by 37 at halftime and the margin blew out to 62 points at three-quarter time after a five-goal third term from the visitors.
But one stat which pleased McKenna greatly was the tackle count which the Suns won 71-38.
“To double their tackle count, we were close to that, that was fantastic by our boys today,” he said.
Melbourne coach Mark Neeld said the tackle count was really disappointing.
“It’s appalling. We had 38 tackles,” he said.
Jeremy Howe with three goals and teenager Jack Viney were two of Melbourne’s better players.
The Demons face Richmond at the MCG next Sunday.
