Gold Coast Suns on the end of 92-point smashing from Richmond

Richmond sounded a warning to the AFL’s top four with an emphatic win over Gold Coast which reignited the Tigers’ hopes of a double chance.

Andrew Hamilton

2 min read

July 7, 2019 - 10:12AM

Not since the Big Bash game played here over summer has the scoring at Metricon Stadium been so frantic.

Richmond didn’t get the weather they hoped for but everything else about their 92 point win over the Suns resembled a weekend of R and R on the Gold Coast to refresh for a crack at the top four.

The only concern for coach Damien Hardwick came in the final quarter when Kane Lambert was taken from the field with a leg injury.

MATCH CENTRE: WHO STOOD TALL IN TIGER SMASHING?

Gold Coast played the second half a man short after losing Wil Powell to a knee injury.

The Tigers booted 16 goals in a ruthless first half scoring blitz to crack the ton by the main break.

It was the type of performance that would normally send the fans of the losing sides ducking for the exits but judging by the noise and prevalence of yellow and black in the stands, Tigers supporters were in the majority of the season high crowd of 16 031.

The Tigers 23.12 (150) to 9.4 (58) win over a disappointing Suns outfit saw them move to sixth place on the ladder with nine wins.

Tom Lynch celebrates a goal against his old side. Picture: AAP Images

Ominously for rival clubs this was their last time on a plane until possibly September with their next seven matches to be played on their own deck at the MCG.

A handful of Gold Coast players, led by skipper Jarrod Witts, engaged in some push and shove with former skipper Tom Lynch before the first siren but that was the last sign of passion or aggression from anyone in red until coach Stuart Dew delivered a spray at quarter time.

The game started exactly how the Suns had dreaded it would with Lynch out marking Jack Hombsch and duly converting.

When he kicked a second soon afterwards it appeared a repeat of Gary Ablett’s return to Metricon Stadium last year, where he torched the Suns in a best on ground display, was on the cards.

Lynch missed two more shots in the second quarter before adding another in the final term to finish with 3.2 from eight possession and six marks.

It was the Tigers’ fleet of dangerous small forwards and goal kicking midfielders who did the damage.

Jason Castagna booted 5.2, Kane Lambert 3.0 and Shai Bolton, Daniel Rioli and skipper Trent Cotchin each kicked two apiece.