Dimma’s men disappoint again as Waterman, Eagles prove too much
The Gold Coast Suns let their season slip through their fingers as a Jake Waterman-led West Coast Eagles snapped a nine-game losing streak with a 15.7 (97) to 13.9 (87) victory at Optus Stadium on Friday night.
Unlike the Suns who fumbled their finals hopes repeatedly, Waterman refused to fumble at all as he clunked a bunch of contested marks and booted four goals to continue his impressive breakout campaign and lead his side to a win.
It was a gut-punch loss for the Suns, effectively ending any dreams they had of sneaking into the top eight, but it was a deserved result given their lack of will to defend and run hard in crunch time situations.
Make no mistake, this loss was not driven by a lack of composure or execution, it derived from a lack of effort and an inability to dig deep.
In an up-and-down affair, it was a second half assault that turned the tide for the Eagles as they booted nine goals to the Suns’ five to secure their fourth win of the season.
Waterman booted three of his four goals after the long break, but perhaps more pleasing for West Coast fans was youngsters like Tyrell Dewar and Reuben Ginbey making large impacts on the game.
Ginbey was particularly impressive in his newfound role across half back, defending with force before driving passages of play forward in exciting fashion.
But even with the Eagles seemingly scoring at will, the Suns were doing enough to hold a 16-point lead late in the third term before a Waterman goal in the dying stages gave the home side a real sniff.
From there, the Suns fell apart.
Outside of Jarrod Witts dominating the ruck and Matt Rowell doing everything he could to keep his side alive, the Suns looked listless as they coughed up four goals to one in the final term.
Waterman got the party started with his fourth major before Ben King responded for the visitors. After that, it was all Eagles.
Liam Ryan took little time in responding, before a genuine captain’s goal from Liam Duggan gave West Coast the lead.
It was a moment no Suns fan will watch the replay of any time soon. It seemed as though time stood still for Duggan, however the more apt assessment would be that the Suns on-ballers were the ones standing still.
Lachie Weller in particular had no interest in bodying up at the stoppage, and all but allowed Duggan to snatch the ball from mid air and hack it through the big sticks.
Jamie Cripps would go on to put the finishing touches on this one, ensuring two things:
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That West Coast would not be receiving the number one draft pick for a second straight season and,
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That the Gold Coast remain a laughing stock without a single road win on the year
I actually really enjoyed watching this game (which is ironic because I was not-so-secretly whinging about having to cover it in the lead up), and I think it gave us plenty to sink our teeth into in terms of takeaways and tidbits. So, let’s get into them below!
Defenders who don’t defend are running out fashion
I’m getting sick of the whole idea of a “running” or “attacking” half back who has no interest in helping their team defend.
I understand the need for backmen to generate play and have poise using the ball in dangerous territory, but that doesn’t mean you get a free pass to allow an opposition forward to run riot.
The comparisons for this were stark in this game.
At one end, the Eagles had Reuben Ginbey and Brady Hough often opting to defend first, getting back to impact marking contests and making the most of Ben King’s inability to throw his weight around. At the other, I watched Sam Flanders and Lachie Weller simply refuse to go up in contests, making the decision to “wait for the crumbs” at ground level. The only thing is, there were no crumbs because your men were constantly marking the footy.
It’s something the good sides have gotten right this year. While their primary function might be to dash and deliver, players like Sydney’s Nick Blakey and Freo’s Jordan Clark are happy to throw themselves into a contest and bring the ball to ground.
The Eagles got this right on Friday night, the Suns didn’t.
Ben King, what’s your deal?
He kicked three goals from six scoring shots, took five marks and had 10 disposals.
It reads as a pretty solid night for a big key forward who is among the league’s leading goal scorers this season, but I just can’t get on board with this bloke sometimes.
For all the stature and skill he possesses, he lacks desperately in ferocity and physicality.
Too often is he trying to take marks on his chest, or being beaten by smaller opponents.
HB wrote a while ago about how amazing Ben King would be if he just possessed a little of Josh Treacy’s attitude and willingness to body blokes… it’s hard to disagree.
I want what Jake Waterman’s having
This has been some sort of breakout season for the Eagles forward. His four goals in this one take his season tally up to 48, good enough for fourth in the Coleman medal race at the time of writing.
But it’s so much more than just goals with Waterman now. He has become a seriously dependable mark inside forward 50, one of the best in the competition, and he’s clearly surpassed Oscar Allen as his side’s number one option.
Word of Geelong offering the breakout gun a long-term deal surfaced during the week. The Cats rarely make mistakes in recruiting, and when they identify a bloke they want, it’s usually for good reason.
Whether they can pry him out or not, the fact the Cats are interested gives me the belief that this won’t be a one-hit wonder kind of season for Waterman.
The sun has set, yet again
The footy world has lost its patience with the Gold Coast Suns. It’s been 13 years without a finals appearance, a streak that is set to continue on into a 14th year now.
They were supposed to be better this time around. Their midfielders are getting out of the “youth” stages of their careers, they have a genuine goal kicker in King and a superstar coach. Still, the Suns have wound up in the same old spot, on the fringes.
Personally, I think I give the Suns a little more leeway than most. I usually like to play devil’s advocate with them, arguing they are still young, and that most of the AFL public’s frustration with them derives from history rather than analysis of the current crop of players they have.
But they don’t do themselves (or idiots like me who like to defend them) any favours when they publicly declare they are finals bound, or that they “have 80% of a premiership side” in the door already.
This year could have been a nice little honeymoon phase for Dimma and his men, but their own assertions of finals footy and the heavy expectation they placed on themselves has landed them in an awkward spot.
Mac Andrew up forward, I liked it!
Really enjoyed this move from Damien Hardwick.
Mac Andrew started the game as a key forward alongside King and for the opening stages looked likely to rip the contest apart.
He booted two of his three goals in the first quarter, and he offered a different presence alongside the more established big man providing some aerial prowess and unique skills.
I’d like to see the Suns persist with Andrew as a big forward who chops out in the ruck. We’ve seen Fremantle have success with three talls in Jye Amiss, Josh Treacy and Luke Jackson – could the Suns emulate this with King, Andrew and Jed Walter?
Okay, that’s me done for this weirdly and unexpectedly enjoyable contest. Seeya!