Gold Coast youngsters stand up to deny North Melbourne in wet and wild conditions
THE third reincarnation of the Gold Coast Suns began in the best possible way under new coach Stuart Dew with a slogging win against North Melbourne in near cyclonic conditions.
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IT was gripping and it was dripping as the third reincarnation of the Gold Coast Suns under new coach Stuart Dew began with a 16-point victory over the Kangaroos.
The harder it rained, and at times it was impossible to see more than a decent kick away, the harder the Suns attacked the footy.
The 7.13 (55) to 5.9 (39) win was the Suns’ first at Cairns’ Cazaly’s Stadium since 2012, a game made famous by rugby league convert Karmichael Hunt’s after-the-siren goal to snatch victory over the Tigers.
Dew has said he will not talk about talent as he wants his side to be known for their effort and competitiveness, but there was no denying some of young top end talent were the stars.
Local boy Jack Bowes had a tough night in his first AFL game in his home town last year, barely getting a touch in the Suns’ loss to the Bulldogs, but he more than made amends last night to be among the best players on the ground.
Ben Ainsworth, new recruit Aaron Young and veteran David Swallow were also very good while skipper Jack Ziebell was strong for the Roos.
Bowes, the No.10 draft pick started in defence where he was staunch against an early Kangaroos onslaught and then moved up to the wing and became the most penetrating player on the ground.
His fourth quarter goal elicited the biggest roar of the night from the parochial 3722-strong crowd who braved the type of conditions rarely seen in the AFL.
Suns coach Stuart Dew said Bowes’ foot skills stood out on a tough night but he also gave him credit for the way he threw his body around.
“He played a magnificent role, he really gave us some drive, he was one who could get a fair bit of depth off the kicks,’’ he said.
“And a couple of times when he needed to go in the last quarter he was really hard at a 50-50 contest.’’
“He’s so competitive, he is a pleasure to coach.’’
It was a goalless first quarter for the Suns and although clever Roos goalsneak Shaun Higgins gave his side the early lead, Gold Coast did appear to adapt to the conditions best.
Gold Coast looked to have blown the game apart with a five-goal second quarter that handed them a 24-point lead at the main break.
Ainsworth showed he was ready to add to an impressive debut season with two goals while Alex Sexton, Darcy McPherson and Young also hit the scoreboard.
The question mark on their list going into Dew’s first season in charge was their midfield depth following the departure of Gary Ablett further depleted an on-ball group that has lost Dion Prestia, Jaeger O’Meara and Harley Bennell in recent years.
But the young Suns midfielders dominated the bigger bodied Roos who were entitled to claim an advantage in the heavy conditions.
Gold Coast smashed the Roos 53-36 at the clearances.
Dew said the highlight had been how the Suns had won the contested footy against bigger more experienced opposition.
“We’ve been big on the no birth certificates, once you are over the white line every one is pretty equal,’’ he said.
“We are aware they have some big boys in the middle and we tried to maintain fresh guys in there and keep the heat on them.’’
The Kangaroos moved skipper Ziebell forward after halftime and it almost proved to be the match winning move.
He booted two in a standout third quarter and with Jed Anderson and Trent Dummont chipping in the Roos drew level.
The siren to start the final quarter also heralded the return of the driving rain.
Although it never really let up all night, the second and third quarter were not nearly as bad as the first and last where it made visibility.
Again the Suns’ coped best and goals to Bowes and Jarryd Lyons sealed the win.
GOLD COAST 0.2 5.6 5.8 7.13 (55)
NORTH MELBOURNE 1.2 1.6 5.7 5.9 (39)
GOALS
Suns: Ainsworth 2, Sexton, Bowes, Lyons, Young, MacPherson
Kangaroos: Ziebell 2, Anderson, Dumont, Higgins
BEST
Suns: Bowes, Swallow, Ainsworth, Young, Martin, Kolodjashnij
Kangaroos: Ziebell, Higgins, Clarke, McMillan, Goldstein
INJURIES
Suns: Nil
Kangaroos: Nil
Reports: Nil
Official crowd: 3722 at Cazalys Stadium
Originally published as Gold Coast youngsters stand up to deny North Melbourne in wet and wild conditions
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