Match

Gold Coast Suns vs GWS Giants

Commentary / 16 Aug 2025

Pre Game

00:00
The GIANTS have won 14 of their last 15 matches against Gold Coast SUNS, dating back to Round 4, 2015, by an average winning margin of 51 points.

Quarter 1

00:00
Q1 is now underway.
00:40
The GIANTS win the first centre clearance of the match. They are averaging 1.7 fewer than their opponents - ranked 15th.
02:19
SCORE GOAL - GIANTS (Stephen Coniglio)
02:40
Stephen Coniglio converts the first goal of the match, with it being launched from a defensive 50 chain. The GIANTS average 18.5 points from this zone - ranked first.
03:40
SCORE BEHIND - GIANTS (Jake Riccardi)
06:25
SCORE BEHIND - SUNS (Wil Powell)
06:48
The SUNS have had five of the first seven inside 50s. They average 8.5 more entries than their opponents - ranked second.
09:18
SCORE GOAL - GIANTS (Harry Rowston)
10:22
Another defensive 50 chain from the GIANTS results in their second goal. The GIANTS score from 11.9% of their rebounds - ranked fourth.
10:57
SCORE GOAL - GIANTS (Toby Greene)
12:03
SCORE BEHIND - GIANTS (Stephen Coniglio)
12:29
GWS GIANTS have conceded 14.8 points per game from centre bounce clearances – ranked last. They've started strongly from this phase, leading the centre clearances 4-0 as well as scoring 1.2 (8) from this source.
14:29
SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Ethan Read)
14:56
Ethan Read slots through the SUNS' first goal of the match, with it coming from an attacking midfield chain. The SUNS average 32.0 points launched from this zone - ranked second.
15:54
SCORE BEHIND - GIANTS (Harvey Thomas)
19:50
SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Jy Farrar)
20:36
Both of the Gold Coast SUNS' goals have come from marks. The last two weeks, the SUNS have had 58.8% of their scores come from this source - the third-most in this time.
22:58
SCORE GOAL - GIANTS (Harry Rowston)
25:07
Tom Green has been productive early, collecting an equal game-high eight disposals, as well as game-highs with four clearances, five contested marks and four score involvements. Last week, he finished the match with an equal game-high 14 score involvements.
25:42
SCORE BEHIND - GIANTS (Kieren Briggs)
26:28
SCORE BEHIND - SUNS (Rushed)
27:35
SCORE GOAL - GIANTS (Toby Bedford)
29:30
SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Connor Budarick)
30:59
SCORE BEHIND - GIANTS (Jake Riccardi)
31:04
The GWS GIANTS scored 35 points in the opening quarter - their third-biggest score in a first term this season. The tsunami has been in full flow, with a defensive 50 to inside 50 rate of 38% and 4.1 (25) of their score coming from such chains.

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
00:41
Just the five tackles for the SUNS in the opening quarter - their lowest in a quarter since 2022. Their pressure factor has suffered to be influential as it sits at 154 - well below their season average of 184 where they rank third.
00:54
SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Ben Long)
04:04
SCORE BEHIND - GIANTS (Rushed)
05:54
The GIANTS are having success with ball in hand, scoring from 39% of all chains. On the flipside, the SUNS have only scored from 19% of their chains today.
07:00
SCORE GOAL - GIANTS (Xavier O'Halloran)
07:36
Another stoppage goal for the GIANTS, this time through Xavier O'Halloran. Since Round 19, GWS GIANTS have scored from 34.8% of their clearances – ranked No.1.
09:37
SCORE BEHIND - GIANTS (Tom Green)
12:01
The GIANTS have been able to win the ball on the inside, leading the contested possession count by five, as well as being able to effectively get the ball to the outside, leading the uncontested possessions by 22.
13:09
SCORE BEHIND - SUNS (Jy Farrar)
16:48
SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Matt Rowell)
17:06
Matt Rowell has been involved in 30.8% of all scoring chains at People First Stadium this year – ranked No.1 at the club. He gets on the end of one after being involved in just one other score for the match.
20:31
SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Ben Ainsworth)
22:34
SCORE BEHIND - SUNS (Touk Miller)
24:52
SCORE BEHIND - GIANTS (Lachie Whitfield)
25:28
Wil Powell has been pivotal to the SUNS' ball movement, collecting 11 disposals (82% efficiency), as well as a game-high 382 metres gained and an equal game-high two score launches.
27:27
SCORE GOAL - GIANTS (Darcy Jones)
29:14
SCORE GOAL - GIANTS (Aaron Cadman)
31:40
SCORE GOAL - GIANTS (Harry Rowston)
31:42
After keeping the GIANTS' key forwards quiet, the SUNS concede a goal to key forward Aaron Cadman. They have conceded 69 goals to key forwards – the second-fewest by any team this season.

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
00:53
Jarrod Witts has been on top in the ruck battle against Kieran Briggs, leading the hitouts by six and hitouts-to-advantage by one, as well as the SUNS leading the clearances by six whilst these two have been ruck opponents.
06:16
SCORE GOAL - GIANTS (Harry Rowston)
06:37
Before today, Harry Rowston had kicked just one goal in his 15-game career. Today, he has been potent, scoring 4.0 (24) as well as assisting one.
09:40
SUNS Interchange - Nick Holman off due to the blood rule.
10:17
SCORE BEHIND - SUNS (Noah Anderson)
10:24
The pressure that the GIANTS are applying hasn't gone unnoticed, as they are applying a pressure factor of 184 compared to 169 from the SUNS. The GIANTS rank fourth for pressure applied this season.
11:40
SUNS Interchange - Oscar Adams and is possibly out for the game.
13:47
SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Ben King)
14:13
Ben King has had a quiet first half, but comes in clutch with a much-needed major. He booted an equal career-high six goals last round – having nine disposals and six marks inside 50.
15:06
SCORE GOAL - GIANTS (Max Gruzewski)
16:25
The GIANTS have scored 3.4 (22) compared to 1.0 (6) from the SUNS from centre clearance chains. This currently sits as their third-highest return from this source this season.
17:17
SCORE GOAL - GIANTS (Jake Riccardi)
19:23
Jake Riccardi has been heavily involved in scoring today, having a game-high nine score involvements, of which three have been goal assists and three have been direct scores of 1.2 (8).
19:33
SCORE GOAL - GIANTS (Toby Bedford)
23:17
SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Ben Ainsworth)
24:53
Finn Callaghan had 28 disposals, 678 metres gained, 13 contested possessions, and eight tackles against the Suns in Round 15. He has collected a game-high 21 disposals, of which 10 have been won in a contested manner, seven clearances and 488 metres gained.
25:34
SCORE BEHIND - SUNS (Alex Sexton)
27:13
SCORE GOAL - GIANTS (Toby Greene)
27:38
People First Stadium is one of only two AFL venues where Toby Greene averages less than one goal. He is averaging 16.6 disposals and 3.0 goals in his last five games against the Suns. He has kicked two goals this afternoon.
29:38
SCORE BEHIND - GIANTS (Tom Green)
30:40
GIANTS Interchange - Finn Callaghan off due to an injury.
30:51
SCORE GOAL - GIANTS (Max Gruzewski)
32:20
The SUNS lead the inside 50 count by three, but have been wasteful with their entries. They have directly turned over 24% of their inside 50s in comparison to 9% from the GIANTS.

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
01:04
The SUNS have been involved in 76.5 around-the-ground stoppages per game – the most of any team. The GIANTS have been involved in 63.9 around-the-ground stoppages per game – the fewest of any team. There have only been 38 around-the-ground stoppages this afternoon so far.
02:27
SCORE BEHIND - SUNS (Ben Ainsworth)
05:33
The GIANTS have won all 11 games where they have had the lead at three-quarter-time this season. On the flipside, the SUNS have only won one of their six games where they have been trailing at the final change.
10:15
When it comes to finding targets inside 50, the GIANTS have been far more effective, having an inside 50 retention rate of 74% compared to the SUNS' 49%.
11:15
SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Ben King)
14:47
SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Ethan Read)
15:05
The SUNS have conceded 22.6 points per game in the first 10 minutes of quarters – ranked No.1 defensively. They have conceded 27 points combined in the first 10 minutes of quarters today.
17:50
SCORE BEHIND - SUNS (Rushed)
19:09
SCORE GOAL - GIANTS (Aaron Cadman)
20:03
The GIANTS have now scored 100-plus points in eight of their last nine games. They rank third for points scored since Round 14.
24:59
The captain, Noah Anderson, has worked overtime this afternoon, collecting 31 disposals, of which 12 were won in a contested manner, eight clearances and 702 metres gained.
25:36
SCORE GOAL - SUNS (Ben Long)
27:45
SCORE BEHIND - SUNS (Jy Farrar)
29:26
SCORE BEHIND - SUNS (Noah Anderson)
30:39
SCORE GOAL - GIANTS (Max Gruzewski)
30:41
The GIANTS take home a 35-point win against their older brothers. Their transition was dangerous for them today, as they had a defensive 50 to inside 50 rate of 38%, generating 9.1 (55) on the scoreboard from this zone. They were stronger in the contest, having 27 more groundball-gets as well as possessing the ball on the outside, collecting 19 more uncontested possessions. They brought electric pressure, applying a pressure factor of 192 as well as outtackling the SUNS by 18.