Match

Gold Coast Suns vs North Melbourne

Commentary / 24 Mar 2018

Pre Game

59:30
Welcome to Cazaly's Stadium for the Gold Coast Suns v North Melbourne Round 1 clash.
59:40
Don't forget to enter your tips for this match, you have until the bounce to make your selection.
00:00
Don't forget to enter your tips for this match, you have until the bounce to make your selection.
00:10
Jarryd Lyons and Jarrod Witts had career best years in 2017 for the Suns. Lyons averaged 25 disposals, 13 contested possessions and five clearances per game. Witts averaged 13 disposals, 38 hit-outs and four clearances per game

Quarter 1

00:00
Q1 is now underway.
02:15
SCORE BEHIND - Suns (Lachie Weller)
03:41
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Kayne Turner)
04:37
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Kayne Turner)
05:35
SCORE BEHIND - Suns (Aaron Young)
06:16
In the wet weather tonight, both contested possession and territory will be vital. North leads the contested possession (15-8), however the Suns have had 60 per cent of the time in forward half.
10:29
In these wet conditions, their has already been 28 intercept possessions in the first 10 minutes. However, only 3 behinds have been created from this source.
13:48
The Suns seem to have adjusted to the conditions better with a kick to handball ratio of 3.22 to 1. Whilst, the Kangaroos are over using the ball by hand with a ratio of 1.20:1.
18:12
SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Shaun Higgins)
19:49
North Melbourne have been more effective at creating stoppages in their forward half. They have won 3 more clearances in this zone (the Suns have created 0), and created their first goal from this source.
22:16
Kangaroos Interchange - Robbie Tarrant off due to the blood rule.
24:27
The Kangaroos continue to lead the contested possession count (49-40) and inside 50's (13-12). They have been led by Jye Simpkin with 6 contested possessions and Jack Ziebell with 5.
28:15
The siren has sounded to end Q1.

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
00:28
SCORE BEHIND - Suns (Tom J. Lynch)
01:14
It will be extremely hard to transition from the defensive half tonight. That behind to Goldstein was the first from the 29th defensive half chain from both sides.
01:17
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Todd Goldstein)
03:29
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Shaun Higgins)
05:51
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Shaun Higgins)
06:01
Despite the unfavorable conditions, Todd Goldstein has been one of the most influential players. He has a game high 237 metres gained and 4 inside 50's.
09:24
The Suns have applied more forward half pressure with 11 tackles, compared to the Kangaroos who have just 6 tackles in this zone.
10:06
SCORE BEHIND - Suns (Alex Sexton)
10:33
SCORE GOAL - Suns (Darcy MacPherson)
13:03
SCORE GOAL - Suns (Ben Ainsworth)
14:19
Those two quick goals have given the Suns a reward for their dominance in the last 5 minutes. They lead the inside 50's (6-1) and clearances (7-0) in this time.
16:02
SCORE GOAL - Suns (Alex Sexton)
17:41
Goals to Macpherson, Sexton and Ainsworth have opened an 11 point lead for the Suns. Two of these three goals have come from stoppages, which they lead (9-1) in this time.
19:45
SCORE GOAL - Suns (Ben Ainsworth)
22:43
The Suns lead the time in possession by more than 5 minutes this quarter, they have also won 15 more contested possessions.
23:56
Kangaroos Interchange - Jy Simpkin off due to the blood rule.
24:51
SCORE GOAL - Suns (Aaron Young)
27:46
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Shaun Atley)
28:26
North Melbourne have managed to create 4 scores from their 9 entries this quarter, but they have all been behinds.
29:40
SCORE BEHIND - Suns (Alex Sexton)
30:58
SCORE BEHIND - Suns (Jarrod Witts)
32:02
After a tight first quarter, the young Suns midfield has blown Kangaroos out of the water (5 goals to 0). The clearances were one sided (18-4) in the Suns favor and the capitalized with 3 goals from this source.

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
00:54
SCORE BEHIND - Suns (Nick Holman)
04:42
SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Jed Anderson)
05:00
Despite winning 60 intercepts, that goal to Anderson was the Kangaroo's first from an intercept chain. Primarily, this is due their limited time in forward half (41 to 59 per cent).
07:05
SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Jack Ziebell)
08:05
The Kangaroos have started this quarter well with 5 of the first 8 inside 50's and the first 2 goals.
09:01
The Suns have won 32 clearances already and are on track to challenge their club record of 60.
11:54
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Rushed)
15:09
In this quarter, the Kangaroos have been more resilient in defense, intercepting all but two of the Suns entries. They have also created the only goal from a turnover.
20:03
The move of Jack Ziebell into the forward line has paid dividends in this 3rd term. The Kangaroos have dominated the inside 50's (12-5) and Ziebell has provided the finishing touches with 2 goals.
23:06
SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Trent Dumont)
23:56
In a complete turnaround from the 2nd quarter, North Melbourne have piled on 4 goals to 0. This is largely due to their territory dominance (62 per cent) and the volume of their inside 50's (13).
28:58
SCORE BEHIND - Suns (Alex Sexton)
32:33
In this quarter, North have been competitive around the clearances (14 -12) and have won the contested possessions by 6. As a result, they have created 2 more goals from stoppages than the Suns.
32:58
The siren has sounded to end Q3.

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
00:39
SCORE BEHIND - Suns (Darcy MacPherson)
04:22
SCORE BEHIND - Suns (Rushed)
05:19
SCORE BEHIND - Suns (Rushed)
05:55
Touk Miller has been a standout around the stoppages with a game-high 8 clearances and 14 contested possessions.
07:26
All goals in this game have come from Gold Coast's end in this quarter. Their have been 10 shots on goal from the other end, but not one has resulted in a goal.
07:40
SCORE BEHIND - Suns (Touk Miller)
09:34
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Billy Hartung)
11:56
Gold Coast have dominated this quarter, similarly to the 2nd. They have won 70 per cent of clearances and had 10 more inside 50's. However, that goal was just their first for the quarter.
16:17
Nick Holman has recorded a career high 13 tackles tonight. Suns lead the count by 9, despite dominating the first possession for most of the night.
20:26
SCORE GOAL - Suns (Jarryd Lyons)
20:46
The territory battle has been telling tonight. 11 of the 12 goals have come from forward half chains. The Suns also lead North by 1 goal from this source.
24:27
SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Jarrad Waite)
24:39
The Suns have amassed 53 clearances in the wet tonight. This is the most since their last match against the Kangaroos, where they won 56 clearances.
27:11
SCORE BEHIND - Suns (Rushed)
28:27
The Suns will get their season off to winning start, largely due to their clearance game. The stoppages proved decisive, where the Suns outscored the Kangaroos by 4.7.31 to 3.2.20.