Gold Coast Suns claim first win over Hawthorn with rout at Metricon Stadium on Sunday
GOLD Coast showed the football world that it stands for something by producing the biggest win in its seven-year history over Hawthorn.
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GOLD Coast showed the football world that it stands for something by producing the biggest win in its seven-year history over Hawthorn.
The Suns, criticised for their soulless effort against the Giants a week ago, responded in the most emphatic fashion imaginable with an 86-point demolition of the Hawks in front of 14,728 at Metricon Stadium.
It was their first ever victory over Hawthorn and also eclipsed the 83-point rampage over the baby GWS Giants in 2013 as the greatest win in club history.
It wasn’t just the size of the 21.13 (139) to 7.11 (53) win over the Hawks, but the manner in which they achieved it.
The victory was built off the back of complete physical control around the contests and suffocating pressure, especially in the forward half which stripped the Hawks of the major asset of their premiership era, elite ball use.
David Swallow’s brutal attack on the footy set the standard. At half-time he had 22 possessions, 12 of them contested, and he had won seven centre clearances.
He dragged his teammates with him.
His willingness to block for Gary Ablett, who was roughed-up by Hawk tagger Will Langford all night, was something that has been missing – basically for the two years Swallow has been injured.
He finished with 33 touches to be the best player on the ground, but it was his first half that set-up the win and allowed some others, namely Ablett, to work their way into the game.
Ablett endured the toughest week of his football career where his commitment to the club was questioned but silenced his critics with 36 clearances and 10 clearances.
Jack Martin dragged the Suns back into the game last week with a brilliant second quarter. But then he went out of the game, which is the one knock on him, and the side’s hopes died with him.
On Sunday night he was dangerous from the opening minute - when he booted the first goal of the game - until the finish.
Once the physical battle was one, the Suns were able to expose Hawthorn’s other great problem, a lack of leg speed.
The Suns outside runners were also able to start creating trouble and the goals flowed, Brandon Matera booted six.
The circumstances leading up to the game also added to the magnitude of the win.
It came at the end of a week of speculation about coach Rodney Eade’s job and a feeding frenzy over Ablett’s form and future.
And by the end of the end of the week the entire club’s future was being question in a sensational story in Melbourne papers quoting Tasmanian premier Will Hodgman suggesting his state would take on the Suns if they were to fold.
The Suns would also have been quietly thrilled that former team mate Jaeger O’Meara had a tough night only managing 14 possessions.
Originally published as Gold Coast Suns claim first win over Hawthorn with rout at Metricon Stadium on Sunday
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