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Injury carnage for Giants in dramatic draw with Suns
Gold Coast have snatched a dramatic AFLW draw with an injury-ravaged GWS after Jamie Stanton kicked a clutch goal after the siren to secure the Suns’ first points of the season.
The Giants appeared destined to claim a six-point win despite being down to one player on the bench after Zarlie Goldsworthy’s free kick at the top of the square late in the 5.6 (36) to 5.6 (36) draw at Manuka Oval in Canberra.
But with 30 seconds to go, Pepa Randall received a free kick, but her poor attempted pass to Tarni Evans hung in the air, allowing Daisy D’arcy to spoil it.
In the subsequent chaos, Giants defender Katherine Smith was penalised for tackling Stanton without the ball.
The veteran kicked truly to snare two points.
The Giants suffered a blow before Sunday evening’s match with Izzy Huntington a late withdrawal with knee soreness.
Then Cambridge McCormick hobbled off with assistance early in the second quarter after suffering an ankle injury while Emily Pease also suffered an ankle injury.
Then, in the third quarter, Nicola Barr required help getting off the ground after suffering what appeared to be a serious left hamstring injury after leaping for a tackle.
Gold Coast midfield gun Charlie Rowbottom (41 disposals, 13 clearances) was magnificent, while D’Arcy impressed in defence.
Giants skipper Rebecca Beeson (23 disposals) stood up, while Kaitlyn Srhoj (19 disposals) and Haneen Zreika (two goals) were also busy.
Goals to Beeson and Zreika helped the Giants snatch an eight-point lead at quarter-time.
Gold Coast dominated the second term but couldn’t make it count on the scoreboard, and trailed by eight at half-time.
In the third term, former GWS captain Alicia Eva made use of the wind to kick a clutch goal and nudge the lead out to 14 points.
The Suns started to chip away at the GWS lead as the Giants tired, when Kiara Bischa kicked a goal just before the three-quarter-time siren.
Clara Fitzpatrick cut the deficit to two points with a lovely snap early in the final term.
Gold Coast couldn’t land the killer blow and were ultimately happy to claim two points via Stanton’s late heroics.
The Suns (0-1-2) host Geelong next Saturday, while GWS (1-1-1) play rivals Sydney away.
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