SUMMARY
It feels a lifetime ago that Essendon first hosted Gold Coast at Etihad Stadium, when Kyle Reimers kicked eight goals, Essendon booted 15 in the first quarter and the Bombers finished three points shy of reaching the 200-point final score. There is no chance of that being repeated this Sunday, with the Bombers stuck on the bottom of the ladder and coming off a 66-point loss to Geelong. Gold Coast was also defeated on the weekend, but the Suns pushed top-four hopefuls Greater Western Sydney to eight points at Metricon Stadium. The Suns are finishing off a poor season in good form and should be able to account for the Bombers.
Can Tom Lynch get back in the Coleman Medal race with a bag against the Bombers? Picture: AFL Photos
WHERE AND WHEN: Etihad Stadium, Sunday, August 14, 1.10pm AEST
TV AND RADIO: Click here for broadcast guide
LAST FIVE TIMES
R1, 2016, Gold Coast 17.19 (121) d Essendon 9.7 (61) at Metricon Stadium
R21, 2015, Gold Coast 14.13 (97) d Essendon 14.11 (95) at Metricon Stadium
R22, 2014, Essendon 16.12 (108) d Gold Coast 13.11 (89) at Etihad Stadium
R12, 2013, Essendon 17.13 (115) d Gold Coast 11.6 (72) at Etihad Stadium
R3, 2012, Essendon 15.15 (105) d Gold Coast 13.10 (88) at Metricon Stadium
THE SIX POINTS
1. The Suns dominated the Bombers all over the ground in round one, when Tom Lynch kicked four goals and Aaron Hall had 36 touches and two goals. Gold Coast had 36 scoring shots to 15 and recorded 66 inside 50s to 40.
2. Gold Coast has been in improved form of late, which has largely gone under the radar. Since round 15, they've won three of six matches and two defeats have gone down to the wire (decided by two and eight points respectively).
3. Essendon remains a highly uncontested possession team, ranking second in the competition with an average of 249 disposals a game. It's well ahead of Gold Coast, who are ranked 14th at 221 a game.
4. The Bombers remain on track for their first winless season at Etihad Stadium, losing all seven of their games at the venue in 2016.
5. Steven May enters the game in great form. The Suns defender was outstanding last week against the Giants, gathering 27 disposals and 14 marks in a complete display.
6. Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti remains the No.1 first-year player in the competition according to the Schick AFL Player Ratings. He has scored 191.1 points for the year, ahead of second-placed fellow Bomber Darcy Parish (169.7 points).
IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR … Tom Lynch.
The Suns key forward has 61 goals for the year and is seven behind leader Josh Kennedy. Lynch has a chance to snag a bag against the Bombers and remain in the hunt for a maiden Coleman Medal.
PREDICTION: Gold Coast by 43 points
