1. Brownlow up in the air
When Gary Ablett fell onto his elbow under the challenge of Brent Macaffer it wasn’t just the Suns’ finals hopes that blew wide open. What seemed to be the most one-sided procession to a Brownlow Medal in recent memory has become a lot more precarious. Although no one in football would have enjoyed seeing the little champ leave the field holding his shoulder, Scott Pendlebury, Josh Kennedy and Joel Selwood will all go into Sunday’s games knowing their chances of taking home Charlie have been greatly improved.
2. Young drops the game
Herschelle Gibbs in the 1999 Cricket World Cup, Shane Warne in the 2005 Ashes - they will know how Clinton Young feels. When Brent Macaffer centred for possibly Collingwood’s best kick 25m out and just left of the sticks inside the last three minutes, it seemed like the points were going to the Pies. But Young who, if you are being generous could have been seeing double after a head clash with Sean Lemmens earlier in the quarter, let the ball slip through his hands and the Pies did not get another chance.
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3. Heroic Suns
As well as a probable absence for Gary Ablett, the injuries that curtailed Charlie Dixon and Trent McKenzie’s involvement on Saturday will also test the Suns’ bid for a first top-eight finish. Dixon was substituted in the third quarter and promptly had ice strapped to his leg. McKenzie limped off with what appeared to be a hamstring strain. To make matters worse, Sean Lemmens also did not return in the final quarter after a head knock. It was to Gold Coast’s enormous credit that without any substitutes they held on for a victory that saw the outnumbered home supporters let out an enormous roar on the final siren.
4. Wasteful Pies
When the Giants kicked ten straight behinds to open their game against the Crows earlier on Saturday it seemed a stat we may not see again this season. Instead the Pies matched it in a goal drought lasting from the seventh minute in the second quarter to the first minute of the fourth quarter. Collingwood’s big names Travis Cloke, Clinton Young and Dane Swan were all culpable, recording eight behinds between them.
5. Cloke dominant early
Steven May has accumulated a number of scalps in the season so far including Matthew Pavlich and Tom Hawkins, but halfway through the first quarter it was clear he would not add Travis Cloke to his list. He even had the indignity of having responsibility for the key forward passed onto Rory Thompson, which could cost May when All-Australian selections are weighed up. Cloke had nine disposals, three marks and two goal assists before the first break, as well as a goal which he added to early in the second. Shortly afterwards he poked himself in the eye and was less of a force from then onwards.
The Suns continue to show that as good as Gary Ablett is he is not indispensable. Picture: AFL Media
