After being challenged in patches of the match by a red-hot Western Bulldogs side desperate for their first win, the Gold Coast Suns lifted in the second quarter to win by four points at Heritage Bank Stadium
to gather their third victory of the AFLW season.

The Western Bulldogs had all the momentum in the first half dominating territory inside 50, kicking
2.0 to 1.0. Whilst the Suns dominated the second and third quarter, the Bulldogs reduced the margin
to as little as four points. In the last two minutes of the game, the Suns were more composed in the
last two minutes to seal victory.

Gold Coast kicked 5.3 to 3.1 to have a comfortable lead at half-time, but things were tense as the Bulldogs kicked the last two goals in the last quarter, but still falling short. It meant the Suns kept their winning streak going, winning three games in a row, whilst the Bulldogs remain winless.

The stats were even across the board, with the Suns ahead in efficiency inside 50 (44 per cent- 35
per cent), whilst the Bulldogs dominated inside 50 (37-32). The Suns dominated the contested
possessions (125-101), whilst the Bulldogs won the uncontested possessions category (157-156).

Whilst multiple Suns players had great games, Lucy Single had a game to remember against Ellie Blackburn, racking up 22 disposals, 15 kicks, seven handballs and nine tackles, whilst Blackburn
finished with 20 disposals, 13 kicks, five tackles and three clearances.

Deanna Berry and Jess Fitzgerald also stood up, both finishing the game with 21 disposals, 17 and 16
kicks respectively and three tackles each.

Gold Coast Suns head coach Cameron Joyce spoke about the win and the learnings since round one
and playing in those different circumstances to get over the line to put the Suns on a record of 3-1.

“We’re still involving in that too. Tonight we gave up some goals and mistakes with the Bulldogs
pressure. We’ve got areas in our game that we need to tidy up,” he said.

“The group’s got more of an understanding of the way we want to play and the way we want to set
up in terms of circumstances.”

Winning the stoppage count, Joyce spoke about how pleased he was and spoke about how
damaging his side is when going forward.

“The Bulldogs set their defence really well,” he said. “We had to try and navigate that as well. When we’re able to get it out, chain the ball or look a bit longer, we certainly looked more damaging.”

Joyce praised the work Single did and the match up on Blackburn.

“We love how Lucy sticks to the task,” he said. “The other thing Lucy has been doing is winning her fair share of the footy and finding her balance.”