Coach Rodney Eade’s hopes of winning a contract extension at Gold Coast have suffered another blow after the Suns’ 23-point AFL loss to Fremantle in Perth.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Fremantle Dockers 12.18.90
Gold Coast Suns 10.7.67
To say 2017 has been ordinary for the Fremantle Dockers and the Gold Coast Suns is an understatement. Join The Roar for live scores from the match and a live blog of the game at Domain Stadium on Saturday night, starting from 7:40pm AEST.
With finals well outside their grasp, both sides will be playing for pride and their coach’s reputation when they face each other at Domain Stadium.
Both sides have struggled key areas this season, and are ranked 16th and 17th for tackling respectively demonstrating their poor defence and attack at the ball this season. This has hurt both sides which is reflected by their place on the ladder in 2017.
Fremantle will have to lift if they want to be competitive against the Suns’ powerhouse forward line of Tom Lynch, Sam Day and Peter Wright who were responsible for their downfall last time.
Prediction
The Dockers were very competitive against GWS last week, which will buoy them coming into this match.
That, coupled with Nat Fyfe returning to career best form should see a win for the Dockers at home in the West.
The battle between him and Gary Ablett shapes as a crucial one.
Person to watch
Not a player, but the Suns’ performance today may put the final nail in the coffin of Rodney Eade’s lengthy coaching career.
Hopefully the Suns can pull out something special no matter what the fate of his tenure at Gold Coast.
Join The Roar for live scores from the match and a live blog of the game between the Fremantle Dockers and the Gold Coast Suns at Domain Stadium on Saturday night, starting from 7:40pm AEST.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
I think the last quarter certainly had some recency effect on it being a cruise control contest, as Freo came out looking to take any sting out of it from the outset and manage their lead.
Caitlin Doyle
Roar Guru
» Click here to read the full match report Well, Fremantle have walked away with the 4 points here at Domain Stadium. Whether it's the time of year and the position on the ladder that both sides hold, but this match was an underwhelming contest to say the least. Both sides were pretty average throughout the entire match. Fremantle accelerated early in the third quarter and dragged their lead out to a game high 30 points. From there, neither side really made a difference either way. Fremantle ad the Gold Coast looked to be in cruise control as they both look to leave 2017 in the past and look towards 2018. A special mention tonight goes out to Lachie Neale and Nat Fyfe who played their hearts out despite the lack of consequence to the result of the match. It's the Dockers by 23 points.
Caitlin Doyle
Roar Guru
FINAL SCORE Fremantle 12.18.90 Gold Coast 10.7.67
Caitlin Doyle
Roar Guru
GOAL Suns score a goal in the dying seconds of the game. It's Fremantle by 23 points at Domain Stadium.
Caitlin Doyle
Roar Guru
GOAL They all fall down, but somehow Fremantle manage to scrape together a goal. The lead out to 29 points with just under two minutes to go.
Caitlin Doyle
Roar Guru
BEHIND Ballantyne kicks another point for the Dockers extend the lead to 23 points. Just three minutes and 47 seconds left.
Caitlin Doyle
Roar Guru
Fremantle starting to wind down the clock already with a 22 point lead.
Caitlin Doyle
Roar Guru
BEHIND Touched behind to Fremantle. 7 minutes left in this unremarkable match. Commentators for Fox Footy will be relieved this is over.
Caitlin Doyle
Roar Guru
GOAL Handley scores an amazing goal for the Suns.
Caitlin Doyle
Roar Guru
BEHIND Fremantle by 27 points.
Caitlin Doyle
Roar Guru
Tom Lynch has come all the way to half back to tae a great grab for the Suns.
Caitlin Doyle
Roar Guru
Bothteams look a little sluggish in the final quarter. Again, it seems like the Suns have already accepted defeat and without much on the line for either side, they're both keen to get off the ground.
Caitlin Doyle
Roar Guru
GOAL The Suns kick a goal on the siren. Margin back to 23 points.
Caitlin Doyle
Roar Guru
All the hard work that the Suns did in this quarter has been undone in the last 5. It's Free by 29 points with a minute to go in the third. The Gold Coast are now playing as though they are going to lose this one.
Caitlin Doyle
Roar Guru
GOAL Amazing goal from McCarthy there.
Caitlin Doyle
Roar Guru
GOAL Poor defence from Gold Coast and Griffin kicks a goal for Fremantle from point blank range.
Caitlin Doyle
Roar Guru
BEHIND Nat Fyfe takes an amazing contested mark and McCarthy completely shanks the pass. A wasted opportunity for Freo.
Caitlin Doyle
Roar Guru
GOAL Ballantyne kicks an amazing goal on the run. Kicks a much needed goal for Fremantle to. stop the momentum the Suns had gained.
Caitlin Doyle
Roar Guru
BEHIND Gold Coast bring the margin back to 10 points.
Caitlin Doyle
Roar Guru
GOAL Peter Wright kicks his third for the Suns this evening. take the lead back to just two straight kicks.