Editor
Despite an impressive first quarter from the Gold Coast Suns, they couldn’t maintain the rage and eventually went down by 38 points to the Sydney Swans on Saturday night.
Final score
Gold Coast Suns 6.5.41
Sydney Swans 11.13.79
The Gold Coast Suns are not giving up on season 2016 just yet, but they’ve got an almighty challenge against the Sydney Swans incoming. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:25pm (AEST).
Gold Coast looked to have put a woeful 2015 behind them after starting the year with three wins.
But the injury curse has obliterated the Suns once again, and they’ve lost all seven games since that eye-catching start, by an average of 70 points.
Coach Rodney Eade is adamant the side has improved, and with a host of stars set to return over the coming weeks they could still have something to say as far as this season goes.
A poor finish to 2015 had many writing Sydney off as a premiership force in 2016, with some even predicting the Swans would miss finals altogether.
But ten rounds into the season and Sydney have made an absolute mockery of those predictions.
They sit in second place at 8-2, and have already ticked off wins against Hawthorn at the MCG and the previously undefeated North Melbourne. Their average losing margin in 2016 is also a mere five-and-a-half points.
John Longmire wouldn’t be drawn on it, but the Swans look like legitimate contenders right now.
Sydney are one of four teams Gold Coast are yet to taste victory against in the AFL. The Swans have claimed all six contests between these sides by an average of 56 points.
Prediction
Gold Coast will welcome back several key players from injury this week, so this may not be the complete bloodbath many expect.
But the form Sydney are in right now suggests even a near-full strength Suns side won’t stop them from taking the chocolates.
Swans by 43 points
Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:25pm (AEST).