GOLD Coast has stunned Richmond by 15 points in blustery conditions at Cazaly's Stadium in Cairns on Saturday.
The wind blowing to the northern end of the ground had a profound influence on the contest with the Suns' ability to stifle the Tigers when they had the wind in the third term a key factor in the 12.13 (85) to 9.16 (70) win.
The wind was so strong that 19 of the 21 goals scored came with the aid of the stiff breeze that prevailed throughout the game.
With the wind at their backs, the Tigers led by 36 points at the first change, but the Suns proved just as adept at using the it to their advantage and had their noses in front by three points at half-time.
Although it wasn't attractive, Guy McKenna's men played a patient, possession style of football in the third quarter that proved highly effective in restricting Richmond to just two goals with the wind in the third quarter.
Damien Hardwick instructed his players to try the same approach in the last, but their 13-point, three-quarter time lead was not enough to hold off fast-finishing Gold Coast.
The win was the Suns' third in their short history and snapped an eight-game losing streak, but condemned the Tigers to their sixth defeat in the past seven matches.
FIRST QUARTER
With a howling breeze at their backs, Richmond jumped out of the blocks quickly to lead by 36 points at the first change. Damien Hardwick pushed Trent Cotchin forward with devastating results as he kicked three goals. The Tigers punished turnovers from Joel Wilkinson and Michael Rischitelli that led directly to goals to Jack Riewoldt and Cotchin, while Chris Newman took advantage of the wind with a 65m set shot. Robin Nahas (13 disposals) and Shaun Grigg (11 plus one goal) ran riot through the middle of the ground.
SECOND QUARTER
Just as Richmond did in the opening quarter, Gold Coast cashed in with the breeze behind them, kicking six unanswered goals to grab a three-point lead. As Nahas and Cotchin barely touched the ball, the Suns midfield found plenty of it, with Danny Stanley (10), David Swallow (nine), Gary Ablett (eight) and Rischitelli (eight) coming into the match. Stanley kicked three for the term as he and fellow former Collingwood player Sam Iles had big impacts and set each other up for goals.
THIRD QUARTER
Gold Coast's ploy of packing its back half while kicking into the wind had the desired result with Richmond kicking just 2.7 for the quarter. The Tigers were forced into a number of hurried shots from long range that were off-target and rushed through. Goals to Nathan Foley and Jake King gave Richmond a 13-point lead into the last. Both subs were activated with small men (Reece Conca and Matt Shaw) coming on for big men (Andrew Browne and Charlie Dixon).
FOURTH QUARTER
It took them a little while to get going, but the Suns came home strongly and kicked five goals to one to run out winners. Ablett got the ball rolling with a brilliant gather and left foot snap, before two goals to Jared Brennan, a composed finish to Swallow and a first career goal to Josh Toy rounded out the scoring. Richmond's only joy came from a soccered goal to Nahas but once the Suns got their nose in front half way through the quarter, the Tigers rarely threatened.
Gold Coast 1.2 7.6 7.9 12.13 (85)
Richmond 6.8 6.9 8.16 9.16 (70)
GOALS
Gold Coast: Stanley 3, Brennan 3, Swallow 2, Ablett, Iles, Rischitelli, Toy
Richmond: Cotchin 3, Nahas, Foley, Grigg, King, Newman, Riewoldt
BEST
Gold Coast: Bock, Stanley, Iles, Ablett, Swallow, Brown, Smith
Richmond: Houli, Nahas, Grigg, Deledio, Newman, Rance, Cotchin
INJURIES
Gold Coast: Nil
Richmond: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Gold Coast: Charlie Dixon replaced by Matt Shaw during the third quarter
Richmond: Andrew Browne replaced by Reece Conca during the third quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: McBurney, Grun, Kamolins
Official crowd: 10,382 at Cazaly's Stadium
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs
