Gold Coast Suns vs Carlton Blues: AFL live scores, blog

Sunday afternoon sees the Gold Coast Suns host the Carlton Blues at Metricon Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 2:40pm AEST.

It’s no secret that these two clubs were widely predicted to be the bottom two sides in the competition, but for one of them that prediction hasn’t entirely eventuated this far.

Gold Coast – stunningly – could be 3-1 by the end of today if they win this clash. Last week’s win against the Bulldogs was a great one, coming after a win over Fremantle and a narrow loss against the Saints (that could’ve very easily have been a win).

They haven’t won against what you’d call premier teams, but it’s been a decent beginning nevertheless.

Carlton’s been more than gallant but still winless, for their part. They’d be disappointed not to have nabbed any of the wins on offer this year, and this is a golden opportunity to finally get one, so the Blues will be taking this one particularly seriously you’d expect.

If we’re looking specifically at last weekend, the Suns surprised with a flair not seen for a long while last week, with fast play flustering the Bulldogs for long periods before the Dogs fought back. Carlton made the Swans a more than a little nervous at times, but were otherwise ordinary for large stretches of their last outing.

You’d expect today to be a battle of the emerging midfields, but the Suns have a disadvantage in their weakness in the clearance department which will have a big challenge against the Blues’ rapidly improving midfield outfit. Neither side stars in the forward line, so it’ll be intriguing to see who performs better in that department.

Both teams have made a solitary change to their side this week. The Suns have lost former Docker Lachie Weller to injury, but have welcomed back young Ben Ainsworth into their squad. Carlton, for their part, have included star forward Charlie Curnow and omitted the oft-maligned Cameron Polson.

Prediction
Tough one, this. The Suns have head and shoulders been the better team this year – their two wins evidence this – but the Blues have played with a renewed sense of confidence.

I’m going the Suns, purely based on form and the fact that they’re at home. But expect the Blues to keep it close – and perhaps be in with a shout in the final few minutes.

Gold Coast by 9 points

Gold Coast Suns
B Jarrod Harbrow, Sam Collins, Charlie Ballard
HB Jesse Joyce, Jack Hombsch, Pearce Hanley
C Jordan Murdoch, Brayden Fiorini, Wil Powell
HF Alex Sexton, Peter Wright, Nick Holman
F Darcy MacPherson, Chris Burgess, Jack Martin
FOL Jarrod Witts, Touk Miller, David Swallow
I/C Ben Ainsworth, Jack Bowes, Jack Lukosius, Anthony Miles

Carlton Blues
B Kade Simpson, Jacob Weitering, Dale Thomas
HB Lachie Plowman, Liam Jones, Caleb Marchbank
C Nic Newman, Patrick Cripps, Zac Fisher
HF Marc Murphy, Mitch McGovern, Sam Walsh
F Sam Petrevski-Seton, Harry McKay, Paddy Dow
FOL Matthew Lobbe, Ed Curnow, Will Setterfield
I/C Michael Gibbons, Levi Casboult, Charlie Curnow, Lochie O’Brien