Callum Brown booted three goals for the unbeaten Greater Western Sydney Giants who notched their fourth consecutive win of the AFL season after defeating the plucky Gold Coast Suns 89-117 on Sunday to reclaim top spot on the ladder after the traditional ‘Gather Round’ weekend of matches.
‘Gather Round’ was launched last year and features all nine fixtures being staged in South Australia. This time around the state’s Food & Wine Festival took centre stage amongst a host of off-field festivities for fans to savour.
Former Derry underage footballer Brown continued his career-best form with a match tally of nine disposals (seven kicks and two handballs) and four marks for GWS.
Brown’s crucial third goal helped to ice the game in the fourth quarter when the Suns were threatening an upset.
The Limavady Wolfhounds six-footer took a crucial chest mark from a pinpoint centre clearance and made no mistake from his set shot inside the Giants forward 50m arc to finally put an end to the Suns resistance.
GWS skipper Toby Greene led the Giants charge with a bag of five goals at the picturesque Mount Barker Oval in the Adelaide Hills which featured pop-up stands and dressing rooms for both teams.
Brown hits it sweetly out of traffic 👏#AFLSunsGiants pic.twitter.com/mEG8z3g5aH
— AFL (@AFL) April 7, 2024
Adding to the atmosphere in front of a full house, the popular Cranberries song ‘Zombies’ was played on the ground’s tannoy system in the second half.
Despite the tenacious win, Giants coach Adam Kingsley admitted post-match that this team has work to do in their quest for a maiden AFL Premiership.
“It’s a funny thing when you play on these country grounds, the players can actually hear you, so you tend to scream a little bit more from the bench,” Kingsley quipped.
“The Suns challenged us in all facets of the game, particularly in the third quarter but I am proud of our guys for getting the game back on our terms in the last quarter.
“We didn’t play our best, but the way that we responded is what good teams do, and that is what we are aspiring to be.
“We’ve got tremendous belief in the way we play and 4-0 is a great start but we are under no illusions that there are five months of the season left and we need to continue to build and grow.
“We are going to be challenged in different stages of the season and we know we have got a lot of work to do, to get to where we want to be.”
On Saturday night Geelong also made it four wins out of four after surviving a late Western Bulldogs onslaught to win 91-95 at The Adelaide Oval.
The fifth place Cats featured Portloaise veteran Zach Tuohy and Kerry’s Mark O’Connor. Mayo speedster Oisin Mullin was left out of Geelong’s 22-man squad.
Tuohy collected 16 disposals (13 kicks and three handballs) and seven marks, whilst O’Connor finished with five disposals (two kicks and three handballs) and one mark.
With two trips to Adelaide in the past fortnight and two games in six days, Geelong flew home as one of only three unbeaten sides in the competition alongside Greater Western Sydney and Carlton.
Geelong also boast a remarkable record of playing finals in 11 out of the past 13 seasons under coach Chris Scott, who has also led them to two premierships, but after failing to make the top eight last year their ageing list was dismissed as also rans by many pundits in pre-season.
The reality is altogether different. On current form they are a top four side who could go deep into finals.
Watching from the commentary box, AFL great Rod Jameson praised the Cats Irish contingent for the impact they are making.
“Mark O’Connor is so versatile that he can play in midfield as well as in defence,” Jameson said.
“Oisin Mullin is quality.
“Zach Tuohy has played 273 AFL games and there is no reason why he can’t play on for another year or beyond and reach 300 games plus.”
On Sunday, Meath midfielder Conor Nash was in action for Hawthorn who lost a thriller 77-72 to reigning premiers Collingwood at The Adelaide Oval.
Nash tallied 18 disposals (eight kicks and 10 handballs) and also laid 9 tackles for the winless Hawks.
On Thursday the Adelaide Crows became the AFL’s latest crisis club after losing 63-78 to the Melbourne Demons at the Adelaide Oval. The Crows are now 0-4 for the season with their finals’ prospects effectively over.
Cork dual star Mark Keane was named as one of the Crows best players for his match tally of 23 disposals (18 kicks and five handballs), 10 marks, and two tackles. Keane also gained an impressive 427 metres.
The Brisbane Lions, Conor McKenna’s team, kept their finals hopes alive after hammering lowly North Melbourne 112-42 at Norwood Oval on Friday.
The Lions are now 1-3 for the season with McKenna due back in a fortnight from the hamstring injury which has sidelined him for most of the season.
Tyron-born Aidan Corr finished the four quarters with 16 disposals (7 kicks & 9 handballs) and 6 marks for the second bottom Kangaroos.