Suns in for Lengthy haul to AFL finals as Magpies loom

Gold Coast may have simply packed it in when Ben Lengthy was pinged for off-the-ball contact on Cody Weightman in Darwin.

The Western Bulldogs ahead’s gamesmanship of their conflict final month sparked cries of milking, however resulted in a objective that put his facet inside one level of the Suns.

Minutes earlier, Ben Ainsworth had given away a doubtful 50m penalty for overstepping the mark that led to a different Bulldogs objective.

Hometown favorite Lengthy, enjoying in entrance of a giant group of household and associates at TIO Stadium, was livid.

However the 25-year-old St Kilda recruit wasn’t allowed to dwell, fiercely snapped again to motion by a defensive unit confidently marshalled by All-Australian smoky Charlie Ballard and vice-captain Sam Collins.

The Suns steadied to win by seven factors after which ran down a fast-starting Adelaide per week later to finish a powerful fortnight within the Northern Territory.

“Yeah positively, that was an enormous second for us,” Lengthy advised AAP of his teammates’ response to the Weightman objective.

“And there is been just a few video games like that the place momentum has gone in opposition to us however we have not modified our perspective or let the scoreboard get to us.

“Chuckie (Ballard) and Collo down there are our huge boys and leaders. All of us have our moments, however we’re very linked and simply go repeatedly.”

“Collo’s a scorching head, however it’s good for us. He is fairly ruthless and aggressive and it is superior to play with him.”

Since their Darwin keep, the Suns have been thumped by Carlton and responded with an enormous win of their very own in opposition to Hawthorn.

They’re now 7-7 and simply exterior the highest eight forward of a troublesome run of video games in opposition to Collingwood (first), Port Adelaide (second) and St Kilda (fifth).

The Suns have made a behavior of falling away after their mid-year bye in latest seasons however the tough trio of video games is not daunting Lengthy, who has arrived after six years with St Kilda.

“Our greatest competes with the very best and we have proven that earlier within the season,” he mentioned.

“Previously a fade out has occurred; it is there within the background.

“However you have a look at how properly we’re coaching and placing that out on recreation day.

“We have some good groups arising, however we’ll carry our recreation and go once more.”

Australian Related Press