The Gold Coast Suns have of pulled off the first upset of the season coming from behind to beat the Saints at Metricon Stadium on Saturday night.
Three last quarter goals from superstar Gary Ablett Jnr helped the Suns record their third straight home win in the home and away season.
The Suns jumped out of the blocks early kicking the first two goals of the game through exciting youngster Harley Bennell and forward Luke Russell.
After Jack Steven kicked the Saints first Charlie Dixon kicked his first of the game to give the home side a handy 11 point lead at the first change.
The Saints took control in the second term, keeping the Suns goaless and piling in five goals of their own, to open up a 19 point half time lead. It looked as though St Kilda would run away with the game and the Suns didn’t have a good third quarter record, however this time they refused to go away.
Matthew Shaw kicked the first goal of the term, before Ablett kicked his first goal of the game to cut the margin back to 9 points. The Saints steadied through Terry Milera but when debutant Jaeger O’Meara booted his first goal in AFL footy, the difference was just 9 points, setting up an exciting final term.
The Suns could smell a win and with some magic from Ablett, hit the front as they went on to boot five of the first six goals of the term. The Saints weren’t done with yet and Milera’s goal at the 27 minute mark cut the margin back to seven points. With second left on the clock, the Suns cleared the ball from defence bombed it forward finding Aaron Hall goal side of big ruckman Ben McEvoy. He rann inside 50 to ice the game, delighting the home crowd.
GOLD COAST 3.6 3.8 6.11 13.12 (90)
ST KILDA 1.7 6.9 7.14 10.17 (77)
GOALS
Gold Coast: Ablett 4, Russell 2, Dixon 2, Day, O’Meara, Shaw, Bennell, Hall
St Kilda: Milera 3, Riewoldt 2, Maister, Milne, Steven, Siposs, Armitage
BEST
Gold Coast: Ablett, Broughton, Dixon, Hall, Harbrow, Thompson, Shaw
St Kilda: Armitage, Geary, Milera, Steven, Riewoldt
INJURIES
Gold Coast: Nil
St Kilda: Tom Simpkin replaced in selected side by Trent Dennis-Lane;