This was published 8 years ago
AFL season 2016: Suns' win leaves Fremantle gloomy
By Brad Elborough
GOLD COAST 4.3 11.6 16.9 19.12 (126) FREMANTLE 4.4 6.7 11.10 14.16 (100)
GOALS Gold Coast: Lynch 5, Martin 4, Matera 2, Ah Chee 2, Davis 2, Sexton, Cameron, Prestia, Ablett. Fremantle: Ballantyne 4, Walters 3, Fyfe 3, Pavlich 2, Mayne, Barlow.
BEST Gold Coast: Lynch, Hall, Martin, Prestia, Harbrow, Sexton. Fremantle: Fyfe, Hill, Neale, Mundy, Pavlich, Walters.
Injuries: Fremantle: D Mundy (jaw), M Pavlich (hip).
UMPIRES Schmitt, Dalgleish, Bannister.
CROWD 34,208 at Domain Stadium.
Gold Coast's 26-point win over Fremantle at Domain Stadium on Saturday night has put last year's minor premier under extreme pressure early in the season.
The Suns first ever win over the Dockers has left Ross Lyon's troops with a 0-2 record, with West Coast waiting for them next week.
After conceding 15 goals against the Western Bulldogs in their loss last week, the Suns kicked the highest score — 19.12 (120) to 14.16 (100) — against the Dockers since Lyon took over in 2012.
Nathan Fyfe of the Dockers and Gary Ablett of the Suns tussle for possession.Credit: Getty Images
And the waiting Eagles forward line is better than the Dogs and Gold Coast's. Fremantle is staring at having a 0-3 start to the season when they head to Etihad Stadium in round four to meet North Melbourne – with away games to Adelaide and Hawthorn still awaiting them before round 10.
It's not just a poor start to 2016 that would be concerning the Dockers coaching staff. Since round 19 last season, the Dockers have won just one of six home-and-away fixtures (they beat Melbourne by 54 points in round 22).
Only St Kilda has a worse home-and-away record than the Dockers since that stretch at the end of last season and including the first two fixtures of 2016.
The much improved Suns have not had a 2-0 start to a season since they joined the AFL in 2011 – and they play Carlton at Metricon Stadium and the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba in the next two weeks.
Hayden Ballantyne of the Dockers kicks for goal.Credit: Getty Images
They also now know they can win without a 40-possession output from Gary Ablett.
The champ wasn't too bad, with 23 touches and eight tackles, but others dug in to the earn the win.
Tom Lynch was the shining light again, controlling the Suns forward line, with seven marks and five goals opposed to Zac Dawson.
He booted two in the period from the midway mark of the first term to half-time when the Suns kicked 10 of 13 goals to open up a 29-point lead at the break.
Lynch was one of five multiple goalscorers for the Suns, with Callum Ah Chee (two) continuing to impress, as has Jack Martin (four). Brandon Matera and Ryan Davis also booted two.
Only Lynch of that quintet was not drafted to the Gold Coast from West Australian clubs.
Despite 34 touches from Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe and three goals in the third term, the Dockers couldn't close the gap in the third term. Stephen Hill also recovered from a slow start to produce an outstanding second half and keep his side in the game.
Hayden Ballantyne (four goals) and Michael Walters each kicked their third goals early in the final term to get the margin back to 21 points.
But as what happened against the Western Bulldogs in round one, the Dockers couldn't find enough targets in attack.
And recruit Harley Bennell is still a few weeks away.