Gold Coast Suns lose to Melbourne while returning forward falls to injury again

Gold Coast have been given a “kick in the guts” on two fronts after falling by a point to Melbourne while losing forward Sean Lemmens to injury for the second time this year.

GOLD Coast have been given a “kick in the guts” on two fronts after falling by a point to Melbourne while losing forward Sean Lemmens to injury for the second time this year.

Demons forward Tom McDonald managed to find the post in the final few seconds to seal a 8.13 (61) to 9.6 (60) win in front of 9765 spectators at Metricon Stadium and deliver a nightmare end for the Suns while continuing their own league resurgence.

A stunning goal less than a minute from time by Nick Holman put the Suns in front before Marty Hore responded to lay the platform for McDonald’s heroics.

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The result leaves Gold Coast at 3-5 while Melbourne now have the same record.

Silence filled Gold Coast’s sheds post-game but despite the shattering loss, Suns coach Stuart Dew said the evidence was clear of Gold Coast’s on-field improvement after taking it to a team who thrashed them by 96 points when they last met at the MCG in 2018.

“We have had (five) out of our eight games under a goal. Sometimes you will get a kick in the guts and other times you sing the song,” Dew said.

Wil Powell of the Suns looks on after losing the round eight AFL match between the Gold Coast Suns and the Melbourne Demons at Metricon Stadium on May 11, 2019 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

“You want to be in the game in the last minute. You only have to look at last year’s grand final that games can be won and lost in the last minute.

“The level of competitiveness is showing and our challenge will be to just stay in it. They have a thirst for it. We will work on our polish, we get that.

“Going down through our list they are playing for each other, that is one thing we are all certain of, the evidence is there.

“We are not immune to close losses but the message is the whole aim this year is to lay a competitive foundation.

“Bar two results I think we have done that. Last week against the reigning premiers (West Coast), preliminary final side (Saturday night) and we pushed them to the end.”

Christian Petracca of the Demons helps Pearce Hanley from the field after the round eight AFL match between the Gold Coast Suns and the Melbourne Demons at Metricon Stadium on May 11, 2019 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Dew praised the performances of co-captains Jarrod Witts and David Swallow (35 disposals), with the former overcoming illness to match it with Demons big man Max Gawn.

“It was a huge effort by Wittsy on the back of last week,” Dew said.

“He was really crook and couldn’t come into the club. He was in on Monday but then he was quarantined until (Friday).

“He didn’t train at all. I’m really proud of the way he got up … and obviously Dave was unbelievable.”

Lemmens, who was in a moon boot after the game, missed the first seven games of the season with an ankle injury and lasted until the opening stages of the third term before re-injuring it in a contest.

Sean Lemmens of the Suns is injured during the round eight AFL match between the Gold Coast Suns and the Melbourne Demons at Metricon Stadium on May 11, 2019 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

“It’s hard to tell (the diagnosis), it didn’t look like much,” Dew said.

“It’s really unlucky for Sean because he worked so hard to get back and he is such an impact on our side and a bit of a barometer.

“We will just get around him again. We know he is an absolute pro and goes about it the right way. “He will need a bit of support though because it’s so frustrating for him. He has shown what he can do at AFL level. He is really powerful, he just needs a fair run at it.

“He will be shattered but he knows he will be able to play again this year.”