AFL Round 9 Gold Coast v Western Bulldogs: All the news, analysis and fallout from Darwin
They almost stole it, but not even the in-form Bulldogs were able to conquer Gold Coast in Darwin, despite one individual display Luke Beveridge described as the ‘best he’s seen in a while’.
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Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has praised the “unbelievable” efforts of key defender James O’Donnell following a difficult loss to the Suns where his unit couldn’t quite bridge the gap.
The 22-year-old former cricketer was a huge presence in defence for the Bulldogs as they tried to peg back the run of scoring from Darwin’s home side.
He played a crucial role spoiling and tackling to make life difficult for Gold Coast in what his coach has called one of the best defensive games in recent memory.
“He was just unbelievable, that was one of the best key defensive games I’ve seen in a while,” Beveridge said.
“He’s done an amazing job to become a really promising key position player in the space of two years.
“He can go forward, he can give you what you need and in a match like this we needed different looks forward, we weren’t taking marks in the contest and they were intercepting on good plays.”
The Bulldogs were facing a 28-point deficit deep in the fourth quarter but were able to narrow it down to as little as three in the match they eventually lost after a final Ben King goal.
Beveridge gave credit to his opposition in a game he called a “shame” to lose following his side’s fight back – and recent form.
“Our trajectory has been in the right direction and to take the hit in a good game is frustrating, it’s one that got away,” he said.
“We were beaten by a good team, they just seemed to kick too straight at times so we couldn’t bridge the gap.
“To be 28 points down in that last quarter under the circumstances and conditions we didn’t think we were playing well and really tried to force it.”
Laitham Vandermeer will be one concern for the Bulldogs going forward after he picked up a cork and was subbed off with calf tightness, following two crucial goals earlier in the piece.
“We thought it was just a cork but there be more to it, so we’ll take a look at that and hopefully it’s nothing serious,” Beveridge said.
Dogs’ streak over as the Suns remain Top-End kings
Despite a remarkable fourth quarter scare the Gold Coast Suns’ Darwin fortress remains unbroken for at least another week, ending the Bulldogs recent streak of victories.
The Bulldogs came to the Top End with a run of three significant wins that had thrust them inside the top eight, but found as so many sides do that the Suns are a different commodity in the NT.
However, the Bulldogs made them work for it with a huge last quarter fight back that included two goals from Sam Davidson and a stunner from Marcus Bontempelli that very nearly bought it down.
It brings their unbeaten streak at their second home to seven in a row, but with the margin at three late and the ultimate score at 15.16 (106) to 14.12 (96) it was more relief than anything else to finish.
"It could be the kids. They could be the heroes." 🤯#AFLSunsDogspic.twitter.com/ACWilw8jyr
— AFL (@AFL) May 10, 2025
A Ben King mark sealed the game no matter if he scored off it or anything else, and he did, but until then it was a frantic finish to avoid a near 28 point turnaround.
The score was neck and neck for large periods and 50-50 all shortly after half time, but the Suns never really trailed and once they found their mojo built a lead that seemed insurmountable.
Matt Rowell had been quiet, by his lofty standards, in the opening half with only nine disposals to his name, but he became a huge influence come three quarter time.
However, the Bulldogs proved why they’ve been among the form sides in recent weeks with a huge turnaround and quick finishes off the back of huge games from Tom Liberatore and Ed Richards.
They had the Suns by the necks late and if not for a midfield free kick against them with minutes disappearing another chance could have come their way.
But the Suns were ahead by just enough to see it out and kept their nerve to finish it off as the winning side and maintain that run in Darwin, at least until next Thursday.
IS THIS HURDLES NOW?
Buku Khamis showed he may have a calling outside of AFL when he took flight to make an impact on the ball late in the second quarter.
The Bulldogs forward jumped over the head of Sun’s defender Mac Andrew, who he had been duelling up to that stage, and with his foe at a height of 201cm that was by no means a small feat.
In the process he clipped Andrew’s temple with his knee forcing the defender to go off for a HIA, only making a return post half time.
Ryley Sanders was the hero in the background contributing three times in a direct passage for the Bulldogs, including the snap for goal to keep the matter tight deep in the second.
RIOLI’S HOMECOMING
Daniel Rioli hasn’t played at his home ground of TIO Stadium since the 2020 relocated Dreamtime match, but a move to the Suns opened up opportunity for more trips home.
And as so often happens for the Territory born he rose to the occasion of his return showing off his clever ball use and seeing plenty of the pill, in the upper echelons for disposals with
He had his moment to shine fairly early running perfectly onto a superb Anderson handball on the way to the 50, booted and celebrated almost immediately as it went through for a popular goal.
His fellow Territorians Ben Long, Joel Jeffrey and Malcolm Rosas, in his first appearance of the season, also had their moments to shine in Darwin.
BULLDOGS OUT THE MIDDLE
The score board wasn’t in their favour for much of the occasion, but the weight of Bulldogs’ upper hand in the disposal game showed best directly after the Suns would score.
Gold Coast attacked time and time again, but each time they got a goal, particularly in the first half, they were immediately in danger of conceding, and often did.
The Bulldogs’ midfield powerhouses Tom Liberatore, Marcus Bontempelli and Ed Richards dominated the clearances, while their forwards had six marks on a lead inside 50 to the Suns one deep in the fourth.
And the scores came almost directly from those centre circle efforts pegging back the Suns’ ability to build a clear advantage in the first half.
Scoreboard
GOLD COAST 4.5 6.8 12.13 15.16 (106)
BULLDOGS 3.3 5.7 9.9 14.12 (96)
BEST
Suns: Rioli, Anderson, Miller, Rowell, Witts
Bulldogs: Liberatore, Richards, Bontempelli, O’Donnell, Kennedy
GOALS
Suns: King 3, Graham 2, Flanders 2, Holman 2, Rioli, Ainsworth, Long, Rowell, Clohesy, Noble
Bulldogs: Kennedy 3, Vandermeer 2, Davidson 2, West 2, Sanders, Bontempelli, Richards, Khamis, McNeil
INJURIES Suns: NIL Bulldogs: Vandermeer (calf)
9816 at TIO
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
NATHANIEL CHAMBERS’ VOTES
3: Tom Liberatore (Bulldogs)
2: Noah Anderson (Suns)
1: Daniel Rioli (Suns)
Originally published as AFL Round 9 Gold Coast v Western Bulldogs: All the news, analysis and fallout from Darwin
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