By Luke Matthews
Despite a brave effort, Gold Coast has proven to be too strong when it matters, defeating Coburg by 34 points at People First Stadium.
Despite the disappointing final term, the side will take away plenty of positives and would be pleased with their ability to match it with a side that featured multiple AFL listed players for three quarters away from home.
Captain Jesse Corigliano caught the eye of many of the supporters at People’s First stadium with the veteran kicking four goals for the first time at VFL level and was a handful for the Gold Coast defenders.
The left footer was everywhere early, kicking three of his side’s first five goals as well as gaving off one to help his side open up an early lead at People First Stadium.
Flynn Gentile superb third season in red and blue continued, with the vice-captain finding plenty of the footy collecting 28 touches as well as five tackles to help will his side over the line in a tight contest.
Joel Trudgeon continues to stake his claim for a maiden Jim Sullivan medal in his first season since crossing from rivals Box Hill. The midfielder found plenty of the footy finishing with 26 touches and laid another six tackles to go with 14 tackles six days ago against the Dolphins.
Mitch Podhajski continues his successful return from injury with the vice-captain kicking three goals and was a prominent target up forward in his best game for the year.
The visitors got off to the perfect start when Josh D’intionsante sent the Lions inside fifty and Jess Corigliano out muscled his opponent and snapped through the first of the day on his left three minutes into the first quarter.
Just minutes later the captain was involved in the action once again when he spotted up a loose Max Thompson hard up against the boundary line 20 metres out from goal. The small forward bent through the side’s second for the day to give the Lions a 12 point advantage.
The skipper continued his team’s first quarter dominance when he marked strongly in a one on one at the top of the goal square after Kyle Weightman sent them inside fifty once again. The Strathmore product made no mistake from the set shot to boost the margin to 18 points nearing time on in the first quarter.
The home side did rally late in the term to get it back to a goal at the first change however the Lions were able to stop the Suns run of goals when Caleb Ernst got on the end of a rushed Cooper Keogh kick and ran into an open goal to kick the side’s fourth for the day 10 minutes into the second quarter.
Moments later Corigliano was held without the ball and given a free kick 10 metres out from goal, with a fifty-metre penalty ensuring the captain put through his third for the day.
The onslaught continued when the Lions won another centre clearance and went inside fifty with Corigliano gathering the ball once again and finding Mitch Podhajski. Despite the scrappy kick the forward found the big sticks to extend their lead to 24 points.
The Suns clicked into gear kicking the next five goals to go into the main break with a 13-point lead. The home side begun the third quarter the same way they finished the second term, kicking the first three goals to open up a 26 point lead halfway through the third term.
With everything going against them the Lions responded when Kyle Weightman wrapped up Sean Lemmes and was rewarded with a free kick for holding the ball. The small forward put through his first for the day to stop the run of eight unanswered goals.
The visitors made it two from two when Podhajski was blocked illegally and put through his second for the day from a set shot. The number 10 was involved in the action again just moments later when he marked a Kyle Weightman snap at the top of the goal square and kicked truly to reduce the home sides lead to just nine points 17 minutes into the third term.
With the game hanging in the balance at three quarter time, the reigning premier’s class shone through kicking the first three goals of the final term to almost put the result beyond doubt.
The Lions linked up nicely along the boundary to send the side inside fifty before Joel Trudgeon gathered a handball from Max Thompson and put through his ninth of the year to give them a slight glimmer of hope.
Corigliano booted his fourth for the day after he received another fifty metre penalty and made no mistake from the set shot but unfortunately it was too little too late with the Suns ahead by 34 points when the final siren sounded.
The Lions will reset before taking on the Northern Bullants in the second battle of Bell Street for the year at Genis Steel Oval on Sunday.
