Sun starts to set on Gold Coast’s finals hopes, Dons too hot to handle

Despite a dismal start to the season, Essendon have now beaten three top-eight contenders in the past month and continued their revival with an 48-point win over Gold Coast on Sunday at Marvel Stadium.

It was a must-win game for the Suns to keep their finals hopes alive and the loss leaves them four points behind Richmond, the Western Bulldogs and St Kilda, who are all battling for the eighth spot.

Jarrod Witts and Sam Draper go head to head.Credit:Getty Images

It was Stuart Dew’s 100th game coaching the Suns, but Essendon controlled the majority of the play against a flat-looking Gold Coast, who struggled to find any opportunities to break the game open.

While the first half saw momentum swings, in which both teams moved the ball quickly when in possession, it was Essendon who had the upper hand. They dominated contested possessions 71 to 54 and uncontested 126 to 82.

Essendon powered to a 37-point lead off the boot of Jake Stringer six minutes into the third term, and the gap continued to widen as Gold Coast were kept goalless in the penultimate quarter. Although they began to make an impact with three majors in the fourth it was too little, too late.

Essendon’s improved form since the bye round has been helped with the return of Harrison Jones and Stringer and the Bombers’ midfield appears to be playing with more confidence, using the ball more cleanly and efficiently and applying both attacking pressure and defensive pressure.

Andrew McGrath handballs for the Bombers.Credit:Getty Images

The Bombers were able to lock the ball within their forward arc, cutting off the supply for Gold Coast. They also dominated the majority of the stats, including disposals, inside 50s, clearances and contested and uncontested possessions.

Zach Merrett, in particular, had a remarkable game with 36 disposals, while Dylan Shiel, Andrew McGrath and Nic Martin all contributed well in the mid.

The Suns struggled to get it out of their back 50, a credit to Essendon’s back line, including a terrific game by Mason Redman, who missed last weekend due to health and safety protocols. Touk Miller, Noah Anderson and Jack Lukosius all fought hard but it wasn’t enough.

Jake Stringer celebrates after kicking a goal.Credit:AFL Photos

Gold Coast’s forward line struggled to get involved in the game, as Levi Casboult was kept to just five disposals, Mabior Chol eight and Sam Day six.

This was while Essendon, who previously have sought to solely hit key targets Peter Wright or Stringer when trying to find an avenue to goal, enjoyed a plethora of scoring options with a range of players contributing. They were let down by inaccuracy booting 14.19 but the crowd didn’t seem to mind.

Sam Draper may have also put himself in goal-of-the-year contention, with a huge burst out of centre clearance to run all the way to the goal.

Essendon: 4.4 9.10 11.16 14.19 (103)

Gold Coast: 4.1 5.4 5.6 8.7 (55)

Goals

Essendon: Stringer 4, Wright 2, Jones 2, Draper 2, Martin 2, Phillips, Durham

Gold Coast: Casboult 2, Chol 2, Day, Lukosius, Rankine

Best

Essendon: Draper, Redman, Stringer, Merrett, Shiel

Gold Coast: Miller, Anderson, Lukosius, Ellis

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