Suns chase history in do-or-die clash with Bombers
It all comes down to this moment for the Gold Coast Suns. After 24 rounds of footy, after 215 games played across the competition, the entire make-up of the finals depends on this last one. The Suns are hosting Essendon at Carrara, and the stakes could not be higher. For Gold Coast, history is on the line — a win tonight would mean the club finally breaks through for its first-ever finals appearance. A loss, however, and the Suns remain the only AFL side yet to taste September action.
The situation is simple but nerve-racking. If the Suns get up by a small margin, they’ll secure eighth place and set up an elimination final against GWS. A bigger win would push them into seventh, which means a daunting trip west to face Fremantle. But if they stumble against the Bombers, their season ends here, and the Western Bulldogs sneak into eighth spot instead. No second chances. No help from other results. It’s all or nothing.
Essendon, on the other hand, has little to play for in terms of ladder position. Their finals hopes were dashed weeks ago. But pride is still a powerful motivator in footy, and the Bombers would love nothing more than to spoil the Suns’ party. After all, teams with nothing to lose can be dangerous — and history shows Essendon has enjoyed spoiling occasions before.
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Gold Coast has made some strong selection moves for the night. Daniel Rioli has been rushed back from injury, bringing his trademark dash off half-back, while Bailey Humphrey adds grunt to the midfield and Jake Rogers injects spark up forward. That means some experienced names, like Alex Sexton, have been left out, a clear sign that coach Damien Hardwick is throwing everything at this contest. For the Bombers, reinforcements come in the form of Jayden Laverde and Sam Durham, who both return after missing their clash with Carlton.
From the first bounce, the Suns have come out with intent. Ben King opened the scoring, marking strongly and slotting his 63rd goal of the season. The crowd erupted, sensing this could be their night. Soon after, Noah Anderson — wearing the captain’s responsibility — put on a clinic, winning clearances, tackling hard, and finishing with back-to-back goals. Each time Gold Coast hit the scoreboard, the stadium speakers blared their celebratory trumpet sting, and Essendon looked rattled.
But the Bombers haven’t gone away entirely. Sam Durham responded with a steadying goal, reminding everyone that this won’t be handed to the Suns. Gold Coast has dominated inside 50s, yet their accuracy in front of goal has wavered, something that has hurt them in previous weeks. If wastefulness creeps back in, nerves will only grow stronger as the game tightens.
For the Gold Coast faithful, the tension is immense. They’ve seen heartbreak before — seasons fade, hopes dashed, chances slipping away. Tonight feels different, though. The players are attacking with urgency, the crowd is loud, and the sense of history hangs over every contest.
If the Suns hold on, a new chapter in AFL history will be written. For the first time, a Gold Coast team will play finals footy. But if Essendon can crash the party, that long, painful wait continues. One way or another, tonight at Carrara will be remembered.
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