4 hours ago
2
It was billed as the biggest game in Queensland ever: reigning AFL premiers Brisbane against their state rivals from down the M1. The long-derided Gold Coast had finally arrived as a force, winning an elimination final in an ecstatic finish over Fremantle, via a last-gasp point to retiring club great David Swallow.
For a short time, the semi-final looked like it might live up to its billing. And then it fell apart. The Suns barely fired a shot after half-time, overpowered by a manic Lions side desperate to atone after being humiliated by Geelong in Melbourne last week. Brisbane now face Collingwood in a preliminary final at the MCG on Saturday. Gold Coast are done.
The Suns could hardly have started better. Ben King plucked a pack mark and kicked the first goal for a confidence boost after a poor first final. Matt Rowell tore through the next stoppage and his captain, and best mate, Noah Anderson, streamed in on the run for another. Shortly after, Rowell burst through another pack and King had his next opportunity.
King matched up on Darcy Gardiner, a gamble on the part of Lions coach Chris Fagan as he tried to free up Harris Andrews in defence. A third mark and second goal to the Suns spearhead ensured the move was short-lived. Andrews went to King, and from there the Suns forward was barely sighted. Too often, he has no impact on a contest when he can’t get the ball himself.
For a quarter and a half, the game went back and forth at a furious clip. Both sides were aggressive in their ball use. At half-back, Lions veteran Dayne Zorko sent low, scudding passes forward, scything through the Suns’ defence. Charlie Cameron and Cam Rayner, both of whom were poor against the Cats, roamed higher upfield, asking more questions of their opponents.
After Andrews had taken King out of the equation, two players separated the contest. The first was Josh Dunkley, who tackled the Suns – and Rowell in particular – into submission. He laid 12 in the first half and finished with 18, a finals record. He gained a mere 62m for his side, but he cost the Suns a mile in return.
The other was Will Ashcroft. This was, it’s worth pointing out, just his 56th game, but last year’s Norm Smith medallist is already established as a rare finals performer. One of the few who could hold his head up in last week’s drubbing, Ashcroft split the game apart in the second quarter with his run, creativity and class.
By the end of the first half, the Suns were losing their composure. A foolish 50m penalty a minute short of half-time ended with Zac Bailey in a full 5m of space at the fall of the ball. The margin was out to 25 points at the break. That’s nothing in today’s football, but the game already felt done.
after newsletter promotion
There were only sideshows after half-time, like the sight of Kai Lohmann rubbing his newly shorn dome for luck after losing his surfie blond locks during the week. There was also the sad sight of Swallow – the Suns’ last original recruit, and first pick in the 2010 draft – trotting around in his final game, his body broken by its relentless demands.
Is there another player in the game who has shown such loyalty for as little team success as Swallow? I’m struggling to think of one. He’s been spare parts this year, used as the substitute in six of his nine games. But more than anyone over the journey, he’s shown the way for this club. Now they have to go on without him.
