Gold Coast showed they had learned hard lessons with their upset AFL win over Richmond.
The Suns’ 24-point success on Sunday at Marvel Stadium came after the Tigers challenged them in the last quarter, kicking two goals and reducing the margin to 15 points.
This time, Gold Coast held firm and were able to shut down the rally as they improved to a 3-4 record.
It was vastly different to a fortnight ago, when Fremantle came back at Norwood Oval to beat them by 10 points in Gather Round.
“At the time you’re disappointed, you’re hurt, you’re frustrated and filthy. You doubt things,” coach Stuart Dew said.
“But once you take a breath, you work out ‘what is it? What do we have control over’ – and get back to that.
“We trained it really well and addressed it, not over-analysed it as well.
“The Freo one, that stung, but you learn … you just have to suck it up.”
It was Gold Coast’s third straight win over Richmond and a significance confidence booster – a success on the road, against well-credentialled opposition and something not many people would have predicted.
“It can just build little bits of belief. It’s a reward for effort, our planning,” Dew said.
“A lot of things didn’t go to plan today, because Richmond are outstanding, the way they go about it.
“Nothing perfect there, but we stuck at it.
“If I cast my mind a long, long time ago when I played, away games and away wins are really good.”
Significantly, Gold Coast sprayed their goalkicking against the Dockers.
On Sunday, they kicked 11.6 and had one less scoring shot.
Key forward Ben King was outstanding with four goals and Nick Holman’s ferocious workrate was rewarded in the third term when he kicked two.
© AAP 2023
