3 minute read

Racing and Sports will provide analysis of many games in the 2022 AFL Season.

We'll endeavour to run through the form, incorporate appropriate stats and also supply a betting prediction which won't always just be who will win.

GOLD COAST V COLLINGWOOD

Saturday 2 July @ Metricon Stadium

You can count on one hand, with maybe one finger, the number of Gold Coast v Collingwood matches in the time they have existed that meant as much and were as anticipated as this one on Sunday.

And for good reason too as the Suns have been flat out a disaster from 2011. So many stories written, so many heartaches born and so many dollars lost.

Well in a season where there was much debate and seemingly a narrative leading to just one conclusion, the Gold Coast has turned things around.

Nearly the entire football world had Stuart Dew looking for another gig and Clarko ready to assume the AFL's mantle.

To Dew's utter credit, and the group of players as well, the Suns have become tough to beat. Even their losses were not debacles. Mind you after the loss of Ben King and being 2 & 5, the sharks were circling off Surfers Paradise early in the year.

It was right about then that those off contract would have looked at others before them as they had left for what they considered greener pastures.

But the coaching staff as a whole, and with recruits playing big roles, have seen things materialise such that they won 5 of 6 until just being pipped by Port.

That game could seriously have gone either way and see-sawed continually. After that early Power surge, you thought of times gone by when Gold Coast would fold. But they galvanised to the extent they were in front at stages of the last half.

So much so that one kick late (and a few that were said to hit the posts) would have swung the 4 points. They really should have won.

One of those to flourish has been Mabior Chol. He's been a revelation up forward alongside Levi Casboult. Two who had stunted or chequered careers down south but who needed opportunity.

They will need to be kicking them straight as they face a Collingwood side on a real roll. At times they looked like they were going to give GWS a towelling last Sunday – in the end they almost sacrificed the win through horrible kicking.

It was left to their classiest ball users to give an undersized forward line enough looks. Without De Goey (for reasons best left unsaid), the makeshift group got a big enough lead that a late comeback was withheld.

Playing in the wet didn't lend itself to much skill so that could be a good form line heading to Metricon this week given forecasts. Tack on the way Collingwood love to travel and it truly is an even money game.

In this mood, it is hard to be confident of any Magpie train having a derailment. There are potentially better sides capable of that than the Suns. A wet game would add spice to the mix.

Just recall what GC did to Fremantle a few weeks back at the same venue. The resolve in Gold Coast stocks deserves one last throw at the stumps. Otherwise it is likely that is them done for 2022 with defeat.

Match Selection: Gold Coast by 13 points

Suggested Bets: Gold Coast 1-24 @ $2.70