Gold Coast are within touching distance of their first-ever AFL finals appearance, after holding off a fast-finishing Collingwood to record a six-point win in one of the most significant victories in the club’s history.
Playing their first Friday night game at home, the Suns stunned the reigning premiers early, then withstood a brutal Magpies comeback to clinch a 10.9 (69) to 8.15 (63) triumph in front of a near sell-out crowd at People First Stadium.
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The result keeps them fifth on the ladder with an 11-5 record, and with a favourable run home, triple premiership Lion Jonathan Brown is convinced: “They’ll play finals now, I would’ve thought. That was a huge win,” he told Fox Footy.
Suns’ courage under pressure earns widespread praise
The Suns surged to a 35-point half-time lead after keeping the Pies goalless, marking the first time since 2014 they opened a game with six unanswered goals. Their ball movement was razor sharp, while Collingwood looked flat and out of sync.
“They’re under pressure, their game is out of whack,” Brown said during the broadcast. “Collingwood just don’t have the energy.”
But the Magpies roared back into the contest, kicking eight of the next nine goals and snatching the lead with just over 11 minutes to play—until Suns captain Noah Anderson flipped the script again.
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After setting up one goal, he slotted another on the run in a defining moment that left Fox Footy’s Garry Lyon raving: “There’s reasons why you get made captain of football clubs … these moments make you as a footballer.”
While injuries to Touk Miller and Jeremy Howe soured the night for both sides, the Suns’ ability to win a close one against one of the league’s best has sent a clear message.
“A supreme win that will give them enormous confidence,” Jason Dunstall said. “You have to believe now.”