The third game on Saturday for AFL round 8 is between Gold Coast Suns and Western Bulldogs. The opening bounce is set to commence at 4:40pm with the game to be played at Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast. The favourite for the match is home team Gold Coast Suns. View our preview and teams for the game between Gold Coast Suns and Western Bulldogs.
Round: Round 8 4:40 PM May 18, 2013
Stadium: Metricon Stadium
Weather: 22° Fine, mostly sunny
Featured Bookmakers:
Gold Coast Suns $1.59 vs Western Bulldogs $2.35 at Sportsbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match
Gold Coast Suns $1.62 vs Western Bulldogs $2.28 at Luxbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match
Odds Comparison by AFL Odds:
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| Gold Coast Suns | 1.59 | 1.62 | 1.55 | 1.62 | 1.59 | 1.60 |
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Western Bulldogs
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2.35 | 2.28 | 2.50 | 2.28 | 2.35 | 2.37 |
Preview:
Can the Gold Coast register back-to-back wins and in the process, take their season record to 4-4? I think they can.
The Suns have won two of their past three matches (GWS and Melbourne) by good margins and their victories, were separated by a 45 points loss to Fremantle in Round 6 where a slow start and wayward kicking proved costly.
Coming off a win and playing at home against an opponent who has lost their past two matches by a total of aggregate of 124 points, the Suns are rightly favourites.
The Western Bulldogs kicked off the season in Round 1 with a big win over Brisbane however, that win remains there only one this season as they’ve not only struggled to win but in recent weeks, have even struggled to be competitive, losing by 70 (against West Coast) and 54 (against North).
They we welcome the opportunity to take on the Suns, whom they’ve beaten each of the three times the two sides have met thus far and salvage some pride.
Western Bulldogs are 1-2 at the line when playing away this year and I don’t think the 11.5 points they’ve been given here, will be enough.
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 confirm AFL drug probe
Gold Coast CEO Travis Auld says he has not been officially told that star AFL player Nathan Bock is being investigated in a major drugs in sport probe.
But Auld confirmed it was only a matter of time before the club held talks with the AFL and the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA).
Instead of soaking up last round’s 60-point thumping of Melbourne, Auld on Monday had to deal with questions about Bock’s alleged use of banned peptides.
A News Limited report said that the AFL and ASADA were investigating Bock’s alleged use of prohibited drug CJC-1295.
The report claimed Bock was injected over several weeks in December 2010 with some allegedly administered at his home.
The sports scientist embroiled in the AFL and NRL drugs scandal – Stephen Dank – was employed by the Suns between November 2010 and February 2011.
Auld knew an investigation was looming for the club after notifying the league of Dank’s employment once the “drugs in sport” controversy broke at rival club Essendon in February.
“We let the AFL know immediately to let them know that (Dank had been employed at the Suns),” Auld told reporters on Monday.
“They indicated at that time that they would want to have a chat to us about a couple of those people.
“No doubt, that will happen fairly soon.
“And once it is concluded, we are happy to be very transparent about it.”
Suns chairman John Witheriff said they would cooperate fully with authorities.
“An ongoing investigation by ASADA and the AFL is underway into the potential use of performance-enhancing drugs in the AFL,” he said in a statement.
“The Gold Coast Football Club confirmed in a media statement on February 5 that certain individuals involved with the Essendon fitness program during the period under investigation briefly worked for the club.
“The Gold Coast Football Club is fully cooperating with the continuing investigation and we look forward to meeting with representatives from ASADA shortly.
“It would be inappropriate for the club to make further comment at this time.”
Suns veteran Campbell Brown said the players were addressed about the allegations on Monday morning.
“But I am not in a position to speak about it,” he said.
“It was addressed earlier but, in terms of information, there is nothing for me to say.
“It is a hard position for me to be in.”
However, Brown believed it would not be a distraction for the Suns who line up against the Western Bulldogs at Metricon Stadium on Saturday.
“It’s business as usual for us,” he said.
“The boys have pulled up well and we are firmly focused on Western Bulldogs this week and getting back-to-back wins for the first time for the club.”