The finals hopes of the GWS Giants are hanging by a thread after they conceded two goals in the final four minutes to lose to the Gold Coast Suns by a point at a windswept Mars Stadium in Ballarat.
The Giants appeared set for victory after Toby Greene’s third goal put them 12 points up midway through the final quarter of Sunday’s match.
The margin was still 11 points with less than four minutes remaining, but goals to Matt Rowell and David Swallow within the space of 60 seconds gave Gold Coast a one-point lead.
Swallow’s dribbled shot on the run from 10m out had actually hit the post, but he was allowed to retake the kick after the umpire deemed the Suns veteran had been pushed in the back.
Greene had the chance to either level the scores or put GWS ahead with a 40m set shot from the pocket with less than two minutes remaining, but the kick against a stiff and swirly breeze fell short and Suns defender Charlie Ballard was on hand to mark it.
The Suns survived several other frantic attacks by GWS in the final 100 seconds to hold on for the 10.5 (65) to 9.10 (64) win.
But the triumph came at a major cost, with midfielder Hugh Greenwood suffering a suspected ACL tear to his right knee in the first quarter.
“It doesn’t look great, the initial reports aren’t really good,” Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew told the broadcast at halftime.
“It’s a suspected ACL at this stage, but we’re not confirmed. We feel for him.”
The result saw GWS (7-1-8) drop from eighth spot to 10th, leaving them little wiggle room in their fight for a finals berth.
Suns midfielder Touk Miller was outstanding with 32 disposals, 14 tackles and two goals.
Greene booted 3.2 from 20 disposals. His highlight was a fly-kick goal on the line in the third quarter after the ball had come off hands.
Giants midfielder Lachie Whitfield was subbed off at halftime with concussion.
Whitfield copped a forearm to the head while taking a strong mark in the second term.
After stumbling to his feet, Whitfield went back and nailed the goal, but was later subbed off when the concussion effects became clearer.
The wind played a huge factor all day, with Greene’s strolling 55m bomb in the opening term showing how powerful it was.
GWS held a 13-point lead heading into the final term, but given they would finish the game kicking against the breeze, Gold Coast were in pole position.
But it wasn’t until the final four minutes when the Suns made the critical move.
AAP
Read more:
