AFL round 7: Gold Coast Suns vs Sydney Swans, full scores and SuperCoach points

Is this the maturing of the Gold Coast Suns? After being carved up in the opening half, Damien Hardwick’s men fired up and put the Swans to the sword – is their season done?

The Suns have conjured up a stunning second half comeback to beat the Swans by 38-points.

Gold Coast delivered one of its poorest first halves in recent memory on Sunday in front of 18,034 fans at People First Stadium before flipping the game on its head to finish 17.15 (117) to 12.7 (79) winners against Sydney in Round 7 of the AFL.

The Suns now hold a 5-1 win-loss record while last year’s grand finalists Sydney sit at 2-5.

Gold Coast were at sea in the opening two quarters against the Swans who were so dominant in the middle that they led the clearances 8-1 at the end of the first quarter.

Sydney were faster, sharper, cleaner and applied more pressure than a Gold Coast side that looked behind the pace but managed to remain within 17-points at the main break.

Defender John Noble led the way for Gold Coast and forward Ben King kicked the Suns into the lead before blowing Sydney off the park, booting five goals for the third time this season.

Bailey Humphrey starred for Gold Coast against the Swans. Picture: Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

MATURING OF THE SUNS

Gold Coast’s ability to wrestle momentum back when the club looked on the verge of being smashed at home is another sign of the side’s growth under coach Damien Hardwick.

Previously the club has gone to ground when things looked bleak but the players rallied, minimised the damage sustained when Sydney were on top before balancing the ledger and pushing away when given the opportunity.

PATON’S INJURY

Ben Paton was subbed off at halftime for Sydney with a calf complaint and could be in doubt going into the club’s clash with Greater Western Sydney.

The 2024 draftee was playing in just his third AFL game for Sydney after showing good form in the VFL and had already gathered eight possessions and a goal assist before being forced off.

Ben King leads the Coleman Medal race. Picture: Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

KING OF KICKING

Suns forward Ben King now leads the Coleman Medal race with 23 goals for the season so far and he still holds a game in hand with most opposition.

King has booted 23.7 for the season and didn’t look like missing against Sydney when given the opportunity.

If Gold Coast are to press for finals this year then King will need to continue being a sharpshooter and that’s exactly what he is doing at the moment.

Originally published as AFL round 7: Gold Coast Suns vs Sydney Swans, full scores and SuperCoach points