Suns all but sink Bombers’ AFL finals hopes in thriller
Gold Coast big man Mac Andrew has kicked a goal after the siren to give the Suns a one-point win over Essendon and all but end the wasteful Bombers’ AFL finals hopes.
Six days after giving their season a pulse with victory over Fremantle, the Bombers undid their good work in an error-plagued 13.9 (87) to 12.14 (86) defeat at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.
The Bombers kicked 1.9 in the final quarter as they threw away what should have been a victory, before Andrew took a pack mark in the dying seconds and kicked truly to bring them undone – then shushed the Essendon crowd in delight.
It was Gold Coast’s first away win of the season.
The Bombers (46 points) sit ninth, two points behind Carlton and the Western Bulldogs and two ahead of 10th-placed Hawthorn, with games against Sydney (home) and Brisbane (away) to come.
The Bombers were their own worst enemy.
Essendon turned the ball over at will while they regularly fumbled at ground level and struggled to take clean possession.
Suns midfielder Matt Rowell did a power of work, racking up 33 disposals and nine clearances, with support from Noah Anderson, Sam Clohesy and Sam Flanders.
It proved an engaging midfield duel with gun Bombers Darcy Parish (27 disposals) and Zach Merrett (32).
Andrew kicked four goals while spearhead Ben King also snared three goals and Jed Walter kicked two.
Essendon young gun Nate Caddy kicked three goals along with ruckman Sam Draper.
Gold Coast flew out of the blocks and led by a point at quarter-time.
Bombers big man Nik Cox (concussion), who had been marking Andrew, was substituted midway through the second term.
The second quarter proved a see-sawing affair until Draper nudged the Bombers out to a 10-point half-time lead.
There was a big melee right on half-time after a 50-metre penalty against Andrew.
The Suns young gun could come under some match review officer scrutiny after throwing some jumper punches, including appearing to catch Bomber Archie Roberts in the head.
Andrew then snagged the first two goals of the third quarter to put the Suns back in front, and Gold Coast led by four points at the final change.
Roberts kicked a wonderful goal to put the Bombers back in front
But Essendon wasted golden chances to extend their lead – with Jake Stringer alone kicking three points, and were left to rue what might have been.
The Suns (13th) next host Melbourne then finish their season against Richmond at the MCG.
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