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The Gold Coast Suns fought hard but fell just short of what would have been a big upset win over the GWS Giants on Saturday.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Gold Coast 13.6.84
GWS Giants 14.8.92
The Gold Coast Suns square off against the Greater Western Sydney Giants, with the latter looking to cement a home final come September, while the former just want to remain competitive after their horror run of injuries. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 4:35pm (AEST).
The Suns have won three out of their last five games after their disastrous stretch of ten losses earlier this season.
Led by gun forward and stand-in skipper Tom Lynch, the Gold Coast side will look to maintain their momentum heading into a crucial offseason and onwards into 2017.
Meanwhile, the Giants are back to their ominous best after their hiccup against Collingwood in Round 16. After eviscerating the Tigers last week, the new kids on the block look poised to make some noise in their maiden finals campaign.
With games against West Coast and North Melbourne in Rounds 21 and 23, the Giants will be wary of committing the same mistakes as they did against the Magpies.
Gold Coast have been cruelled by injuries – as has been the story of their season – with star defender Nick Malceski going down due to a knee ailment, while promising midfielder Jesse Lonergan has been ruled out due to a shoulder complaint.
The duo add to the Suns’ long injury list, which now includes 11 senior players, including stars Gary Ablett, Dion Prestia, David Swallow and Jaeger O’Meara.
For the Giants, classy midfielder Dylan Shiel will miss the clash due to a groin injury.
These sides have four wins apiece in the eight contests between them, but the Giants have had the ascendency in recent times, winning their last three matches by an average of over 57 points.
The key matchup of the contest is the battle of the skippers – Giants captain Phil Davis facing off against Lynch in a throwback to the 1980s. Supporting acts Sam Day and ‘Two-metre Peter’ Wright also need to make their presence felt if the Suns are any chance of causing an upset.
At the other end of the ground, Steven May will have his hands full with Jeremy Cameron, who booted seven goals last time the clubs met.
Prediction
Gold Coast have certainly picked up their form since the bye, but GWS have far too much depth and class throughout the ground.
Expect a tight contest in the first half, but with a home final on the line, the Giants should cruise home in the second half.
Giants by 46 points.
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