By Will Jeffares
Six consecutive goals, including five in the final term, have seen Gold Coast run away 33-point winners over Frankston on Saturday afternoon at Kinetic Stadium in wet conditions.
As the rain fell throughout the contest, it was a tight, contested battle between the two sides for most of the afternoon, but after the Dolphins hit the front in the third quarter, the Suns’ late furry saw them run away with the 6.11 (47) to 12.8 (80) result.
It was another fast start for Frankston against the reigning premiers, kicking the opening two majors through an Angus Grant set shot and a clever dummy and finish from Blake O’Leary, much to the delight of the home crowd who braved the wintery conditions.
After the Suns themselves kicked the next two, Matt Johnson dribbled home a goal in quick fashion to have the lead back beyond a goal. However, a late set shot goal to the visitors had the Dolphins’ lead sitting at one point at the end of the first term.
With the wet weather persisting, the affair became much more of a slog in the second term, with Frankston being held goalless as Gold Coast kicked the only two of the term via Levi Casboult and Ethan Read to have them sitting with a two-goal lead at the main break.
It couldn’t have been much better of a start to the third term for the Dolphins, with returning forward Noah Gown dribbling home a major within the first 30 seconds to halve the deficit. However, Gold Coast would respond through Casboult’s second to restore their two-goal advantage.
It would be two cracking goals in a minute from Frankston that would turn the game on its head midway through the third, as Lochie Reidy curled home a superb goal before a brilliant Jack Newnes checkside finish put the Dolphins in the lead in a flash and have the home crowd on their feet.
However, it wasn’t to be for Jackson Kornberg’s side as the Suns regained the lead heading into the final break thanks to a Lachlan Gulbin major, before piling on five unanswered in the last quarter to have the final margin at 33 points.
Ruckman Angus Grant put in a great performance in a difficult matchup against the more experienced Ned Moyle, leading the way with a team-high 12 clearances, while also finishing with 22 disposals, 25 hit-outs and a major.
Jackson Voss (28 disposals, three clearances) was strong in the wet, to be the side’s leading ball-winner. While Seb Quirk (23 disposals, seven clearances, eight tackles), Trent Mynott (22 disposals, five clearances, five tackles) and Tom Murphy (25 disposals) battled hard throughout the afternoon.
Blake O’Leary continued his fine form to finish with 24 disposals, seven clearances, and a major, while Lachie Riley (18 disposals, seven tackles) was a strong contributor.
The Dolphins will take on Collingwood back at Kinetic Stadium next Sunday afternoon, with the first bounce at 1:05 pm AEST in what should be a great contest.
FRANKSTON 3.4 3.6 6.7 6.11 (47)
GOLD COAST 3.3 5.6 7.7 12.8 (80)
GOALS
Reidy, Newnes, O’Leary, Johnson, Gown, Grant
BEST
Grant, Voss, Mynott, Quirk, O’Leary
