Gold Coast Suns pull off stunning upset win over the Western Bulldogs

It was only a few months ago that some of the best minds in the AFL were debating if the Gold Coast Suns would win a game in 2019. Three weeks into the season the club already has two big scalps and is far from done.

Anthony Miles celebrates a vital goal for the Suns. Picture: AAP Images

Last October, Essendon great Matthew Lloyd suggested the Gold Coast Suns would field the worst list to ever take to an AFL field in 2019.

When the AFL fixture came out in November, opposition fans of clubs who drew the Suns twice this season were counting their blessings.

But last year’s strugglers are quickly becoming this year’s surprise packets.

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Suns mentor Stuart Dew is proving a master coach after steering his side to two wins in two weeks over Western Bulldogs and Fremantle, after Gold Coast had won just one of its previous 18 games dating back to Round 6 last year.

In fact, the Suns could quite easily be 3-0, having lost to St Kilda by just a point in Round 1.

Defence was the key to success again on Sunday, the Suns holding off a late Bulldogs’ charge to score five-point win at Marvel Stadium.

The Bulldogs had a chance to level the scores late, but a Billy Gowers shot at goal from 40m out sailed right with just 28 seconds left on the clock.

Anthony Miles celebrates a crucial goal for the Suns. Picture: Getty Images

But a Bulldogs win would have been daylight robbery, for the Suns were the better side and had lead for the entire match after breaking away to a 24-point lead at quarter-time on the back of a six-goal opening term.

The Bulldogs finished with 18 more inside-50s and 14 more clearances, but the Suns wouldn’t be denied.

OLD HABITS

The Western Bulldogs’ goalkicking has been woeful in recent years and Sunday was no different.

In 2017, the side ranked equal-last for scoring accuracy at just 52 per cent and last season they ranked third-last at 54.1 per cent.

Sunday, poor accuracy again proved costly.

The Bulldogs booted 9.14 from 25 shots at goal, equating to just 36 per cent accuracy.

The tone was set early, with the talented Josh Dunkley missing one from 15m straight in front in the opening quarter.

Marcus Bontempelli had four shots at goal — including an important one from 40m out straight in front midway through the last term — and recorded three behinds and one out on the full.

Bad kicking is bad footy.

SILKY SEXTON

If Alex Sexton played for a Victorian club you can bet his profile would be higher.

The 25-year-old played his 100th game for Gold Coast Suns on Sunday but is far from a recognisable figure among the general football public.

Sexton kicked 28.19 from 22 games last year and has stepped that up so far this season.

After Round 2, he led the Coleman Medal race with eight goals.

The 186cm mid-size forward added another two majors to that tally by quarter-time against the Bulldogs and finished with 2.1 as well as three score assists for the game.

LOVE FOR LIAM

There was a nice touch pre-game, as the Bulldogs’ faithful gave fan-favourite Liam Picken a fitting farewell.

Picken, partner Annie and their three young children did a lap of Marvel Stadium in the back of a ute to a standing ovation.

The humble Picken is understood to have been not keen on the fanfare, but the fans loved it and the 2016 premiership player deserved it.

Picken announced his retirement to teammates last Monday due to ongoing concussion issues.

Liam Picken farewells the Western Bulldogs fans. Picture: Getty Images

JJ A CHANCE TO RETURN

Western Bulldogs defender Jason Johannisen is a “big chance” to return against Collingwood on Friday night as the Bulldogs look to return to form after a “frustrating” loss to Gold Coast Suns.

Johannisen missed both the Bulldogs’ pre-season matches and their opening three games of the regular season with an ankle injury but is in the mix to be thrust straight back into the side if he trains strongly this week.

“He’s missed some footy but he’s a big chance to come straight back in,” Beveridge said Sunday night.

“We’ve done that before with him.”

Beveridge and the Bulldogs were left to lament missed opportunities after they failed to overcome the Suns at Marvel Stadium.

Beveridge said it was a “reasonable conclusion to come to” that the side could have entered the match complacent after conceding six first-quarter goals in a sloppy start which had the home side trailing by 24 points at the first change.

Luke Beveridge was not impressed with his team. Picture: AAP Images

“There’s no doubt we had a handful of lads not playing their best footy in the first quarter and that rubbed off a little bit and it took time for us to get our composure back,” Beveridge said.

“You hope that it wasn’t complacency. We’re not in a position to be a complacent team. We’re trying to re-establish ourselves as a good side.”

Beveridge said his side’s fight to get back in the contest after quarter-time was pleasing, but its failure to capatalise on opportunities forward proved costly.

The Bulldogs won the inside-50 count 66-48 but kicked just nine goals.

“It was unfortunate that we couldn’t come over the top but they were the better team on the day,” Beveridge said.

“We did create the opportunities but we didn’t finish them off. There’s some frustration there but you’ve got to acknowledge their good play as well.”

Tom Boyd is expected to return from a back injury through the VFL next weekend, having not played at any level since Round 18 last year.

BEST:

BULLDOGS: Bontempelli, Liberatore, Hunter, Macrae, Suckling, Wallis

SUNS: Swallow, Witts, Martin, Fiorini, Witts, Bowes, Weller, Harbrow, Collins

VOTES

3 — Bontempelli (WB)

2 — Swallow (GC)

1 — Witts (GC)

Originally published as Gold Coast Suns pull off stunning upset win over the Western Bulldogs