Gold Coast Suns vs Carlton Blues highlights: Suns 3-0 after beating Blues

Match result:

The Gold Coast Suns remain undefeated in 2016 with a 54 point win over the young Carlton Blues lineup.
It was a comfortable win in the end, and it ended up being party time for the Suns in the final quarter.

REPORT: SUNS BEAT BLUES, AT A COST

Despite that, the Blues didn’t disgrace themselves at all, they simply ran out of steam in the end after a gallant effort for the first half.

Aaron Hall was best afield with his 40 disposals and one goal. His skipper Gary Ablett was also at his usual best with 35 disposals, while Tom Lynch was also a standout with his four goals.

For Carlton, Ed Curnow collected 30 touches but wasn’t very effective, Jacob Weitering was superb all night with his 26 disposals and 9 marks, while Paddy Cripps tried hard for his 23 touches and solitary goal.

Lynch scored a game-high 4 goals, while Jack Martin kicked three for the Suns. There were no multiple goal kickers for the Blues, as their scoring woes continue.

It was a tight game for a while there, but the Suns did what they should and ran away with a comfortable win. Probably not a game you’d want to watch again.

Final score
Gold Coast 13.17.95
Carlton 5.11.41

Match preview:

The Carlton Blues will be hoping to cause an upset when they clash with the Gold Coast Suns at Metricon Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:25pm (AEST).

Fresh off one of the more respectable ten-goal losses we’ve seen, Carlton will want to gain respect the more conventional way with a win over the undefeated Gold Coast.

The word around is that the Blues are feeling confident of bringing the Suns back down to Earth, however they’ll have it stacked against them, with tonight’s opponents coming into the game in some seriously good form.

Having cruised in the first round against a crippled Essendon side, the Suns showed they may well be in the action come September with a comfortable win against Fremantle.

It is early days, though, and Brendon Bolton’s first win as Carlton coach could put some doubt into the Suns’ heads.

The Blues’ scoring woes haven’t been so much of an issue against the Suns – they’ve managed to average over 100 points in their last five clashes, while also keeping their opponents to just 70.

But, if the Suns want to buck that trend, tonight is a great opportunity to do so.

Carlton will be without Andrejs Everitt, who scored three majors against them last time out. The pressure will be on enigmatic big-man Levi Casboult and youngster Charlie Curnow to deliver up forward.

One area both sides aren’t short in is the midfield. Carlton’s recruits Sam Kerridge and Matthew Wright have been scoring from the middle, leaving Patrick Cripps and skipper Marc Murphy to do the dirty work.

Meanwhile, injuries haven’t hurt the Sun’s midfield either, with Gary Ablett back and Kade Kolodjashnij doing a fine job initiating some run-and-carry, Gold Coast looks potent going forward.

And up forward is Tom Lynch, who’ll look to continue his rich vein of form over the last couple of seasons.

The ins and outs aren’t necessarily significant for either side, but Suns excitement machine Callum Ah Chee is out with illness, while Dylan Buckley gets another chance for the Blues after being dropped for Round 2.

Prediction
This looks to be a one-sided contest, however the Blues have shown some good team unity during their first two tests of the season. Expect the Suns to have too much class, though.

Suns by 23 points.