Gold Coast fight back, end AFLW drought
Roger Vaughan |
Gold Coast have stormed back with the last five goals of the game to beat West Coast by 13 points and break their AFLW drought.
Tara Bohanna kicked three-last quarter goals, including one on the final siren, and Kate Surman kicked two as the Suns stormed home on Sunday at Whitten Oval for the 7.4 (46) to 5.3 (33) win.
It was Gold Coast’s first win since round six, 2020 – also over the Eagles.
This is the first of four games in Melbourne for West Coast over the next four weeks because of the national COVID-19 surge.
The Suns had dominated play with 24 inside 50s to 12 at three-quarter time, but the two teams had kicked two goals apiece and Gold Coast only led by two points.
Eagles players Mikayla Bowen, Kellie Gibson and Maddy Collier then kicked goals to start the last term and improbably, West Coast were 16 points up.
Just when it looked like West Coast had taken control, Surman kicked her first goal and a minute later Bohanna’s booming shot from nearly 50m out also went through.
Surman’s second goal with five minutes left gave the Suns the lead and Bohanna finished it off with the last two goals of the match.
Last year’s No.1 draft pick Charlie Rowbottom was outstanding for the Suns with a whopping 12 tackles as well as 17 possessions.
West Coast’s Dana Hooker had a game-high 19 disposals and Emma Swanson racked up 18.
While Ellie Hampson had a strong game for the Suns, she was also reported in the second term for a dangerous tackle.
AAP