Match

North Melbourne vs Gold Coast Suns

Commentary / 12 Apr 2025

Pre Game

00:00

The Suns have won their last four matches on the road. A win this round would make it a club-record five.

Quarter 1

00:00

Q1 is now underway.

00:27

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Luke Davies-Uniacke)

01:14

SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Ben Ainsworth)

02:35

Ben Ainsworth kicks the first goal of the match from a snap in play. Last week he was able to impact the scoreboard against the Crows, recording five score assists and nine score involvements.

04:43

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Nick Larkey)

05:52

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Rushed)

06:10

The Kangaroos have controlled the ball early, leading disposals 28-12. Dylan Stephens has four disposals already.

06:58

SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Will Graham)

07:26

Gold Coast has started efficiently, scoring two goals straight from their four inside 50s. North Melbourne has also gone inside 50 four times, but have just three behinds to show for it.

09:05

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Jy Simpkin)

11:40

The Kangaroos are on top around the stoppages, leading clearances 6-1. Caleb Daniel leads the way with two early ones.

11:56

SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Ben King)

13:17

SCORE BEHIND - SUNS (Lachie Weller)

14:01

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Jack Darling)

14:31

Jack Darling gets on the end of a Kangaroos chain that started in the defensive midfield to kick an easy goal from the goalsquare.

15:55

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Jack Darling)

17:02

The Kangaroos haven't been able to apply much pressure to start this match, recording a pressure factor of just 1.43. Gold Coast are above the AFL average with 1.89.

17:36

SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Ben Long)

18:16

The Suns' forward line continues to look dangerous as Ben Long puts one through. They have now kicked four goals from just seven entries.

20:14

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Paul Curtis)

20:26

Paul Curtis converts a set shot from a free kick to get one back for the Kangaroos. He is averaging 22.5 scoreboard impact points per game – ranked second in the competition among general forwards.

22:20

North Melbourne continue to dominate stoppages, leading clearances 12-2 and centre clearances 4-2.

23:46

SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Ben King)

24:56

A costly turnover from the Kangaroos ends up with Ben King scoring a goal from the goal square. Gold Coast leads scores from turnovers 19-1.

28:38

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Tom Powell)

30:33

SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Touk Miller)

31:06

Touk Miller boots Gold Coast's sixth goal from a mark taken directly in front of goal. He is averaging 15 scoreboard impact points this season – ranked third among midfielders in the AFL.

32:54

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Luke Davies-Uniacke)

33:43

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Luke Davies-Uniacke)

33:59

The biggest difference between the two sides has been efficiency going forward. The Kangaroos led inside 50s 16-12 but could only manage 3.7, compared to Gold Coast's 6.1.

Quarter 2

00:00

Q2 is now underway.

00:58

SCORE BEHIND - SUNS (Ben Long)

02:34

SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Ben Long)

02:48

Ben Long kicks the first goal of the second quarter from a set shot. The Suns have scored 75.7 points per game from set shots this season – ranked No.1 in the league.

03:51

SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Sam Flanders)

04:59

The Suns have started this quarter strongly, leading inside 50s 5-0 and scoring 13-0. It follows a season trend for Gold Coast this year, as they have outscored their opponents by 17 points per game in the first 10 minutes of quarters – ranked No.1 in the competition.

10:03

Gold Coast has dominated territory to start this quarter, leading time in forward half 79 per cent to 21 per cent this term.

10:21

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Nick Larkey)

13:01

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Zane Duursma)

13:55

After conceding four consecutive goals either side of quarter time, the Kangaroos respond by kicking the last two goals. They also have three of the last four inside 50s.

15:19

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Zane Duursma)

17:25

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Harry Sheezel)

18:14

A bad turnover from the Suns in their defensive 50 is pounced on by Harry Sheezel. He is averaging 31.4 disposals in his last 10 games – ranked second in the competition.

19:06

SCORE BEHIND - SUNS (Jed Walter)

20:57

SCORE BEHIND - SUNS (Rushed)

21:30

Around the contest has been very even this quarter, with the Kangaroos just ahead on contested possessions 23-22 and the Suns just leading clearances 7-6.

23:50

SCORE BEHIND - SUNS (Noah Anderson)

25:03

The Suns have had five of the last six inside 50s, but have only managed three behinds.

25:27

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Paul Curtis)

27:36

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Paul Curtis)

27:55

The Kangaroos score a nice transition goal from a chain that started in their defensive 50. This quarter alone they have scored 19 points from chains starting in this zone.

29:20

SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Jed Walter)

30:05

Jed Walter converts a set shot for his first goal of the match. Last week he booted a career-high three goals – having 10 disposals, two contested marks, and five score involvements.

31:51

The Kangaroos have had the upper hand at stoppages, leading centre clearances 8-6, but they haven't scored once from these clearances. Before today they had scored 21.8 points per game from this source – ranked No.1 in the competition.

Quarter 3

00:00

Q3 is now underway.

03:17

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Cameron Zurhaar)

03:30

Kangaroos Interchange - Colby McKercher off due to an injury.

04:56

SCORE BEHIND - SUNS (Sam Clohesy)

06:23

SCORE BEHIND - SUNS (Ben Long)

07:53

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Zane Duursma)

09:27

The Suns have flipped the stoppages around this quarter, leading clearances 4-2.

10:49

Gold Coast has started this quarter poorly with efficiency, booting 0.2 from six inside 50s.

12:58

After four consecutive inside 50s from the Suns, the Kangaroos score a goal against the play. They have scored three goals straight from just five entries this quarter.

13:08

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Jacob Konstanty)

14:22

SCORE BEHIND - SUNS (Matt Rowell)

17:32

SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Ben King)

19:10

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Nick Larkey)

20:59

The Kangaroos score their fourth goal for the quarter, this time from a centre bounce clearance. They lead scores from stoppages 39-22.

21:52

SCORE BEHIND - SUNS (Rushed)

22:35

SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Joel Jeffrey)

23:19

Joel Jeffrey converts an in-play goal from a throw in clearance for the Suns. They have the momentum currently, recording five of the last six inside 50s.

26:22

SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Ben King)

27:01

The Suns take the lead back with Ben King's fourth goal of the match, from just four kicks.

28:43

This quarter the Suns lead inside 50s 16-7, but have been wasteful in front of goal booting 3.4, compared to North Melbourne's four goals straight.

31:22

After a quiet first half, Noah Anderson has been massive this quarter, recording 11 disposals, two clearances and four score involvements.

32:07

SCORE BEHIND - SUNS (Joel Jeffrey)

33:01

SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Lachie Weller)

34:57

SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Matt Rowell)

35:01

Matt Rowell caps off a tremendous quarter with a snapping goal right before the siren. He had more contested possessions (6), clearances (5) and score involvements (6) than any other player for the term.

Quarter 4

00:00

Q4 is now underway.

00:43

SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Jake Rogers)

02:39

SCORE BEHIND - SUNS (Daniel Rioli)

03:19

Gold Coast has started this quarter strongly, leading clearances 3-1 and recording the first three inside 50s. It has won six of its last nine matches against North Melbourne by an average winning margin of 60 points.

04:40

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Jack Darling)

06:20

SCORE GOAL - SUNS (John Noble)

07:01

The John Noble goal comes from a turnover in the middle of the ground that he created with a smother. Gold Coast lead scores from turnover for the match 49-36.

08:48

SCORE BEHIND - SUNS (Rushed)

12:45

Gold Coast lead clearances this quarter 7-2, with Bailey Humphrey and Matt Rowell recording two each. Clearances are a dead even 38-38 for the match.

13:16

SCORE BEHIND - SUNS (Touk Miller)

14:16

SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Sam Flanders)

15:44

Gold Coast's efficiency has returned this quarter, recording six scores from just eight inside 50s. In comparison the Kangaroos have just one score from their four entries.

17:14

SCORE BEHIND - SUNS (Wil Powell)

18:15

SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Ethan Read)

18:42

Ethan Read snaps a goal from a Gold Coast clearance in the forward 50. Since half time the Suns lead points from stoppages 41-12.

20:49

Ben King converts a tough set shot to make it five goals straight for him. Gold Coast has now kicked nine of the last ten goals.

23:38

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Paul Curtis)

25:39

Despite Ben King booting a bag of five goals, Gold Coast still has 13 individual goalkickers in this match so far.

27:28

SCORE GOAL - Kangaroos (Jy Simpkin)

29:16

SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Nick Holman)

30:51

SCORE BEHIND - Kangaroos (Nick Larkey)

31:01

Gold Coast has dominated contested possessions this quarter, leading 40-25. Bailey Humphrey leads the way with six in this term.

32:58

SCORE BEHIND - SUNS (Ethan Read)

34:03

SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Ben Long)

34:05

Matt Rowell was one of the best afield, recording game highs for contested possessions (15), clearances (11), score involvements (14) and tackles (7).