Toast HISTORY LESSON: Gold Coast in Cairns

Matchu

Norm Smith Medallist
Apr 12, 2007
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AFL Club
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Gold Coast v Bendigo Bombers - VFL Round 13
17 July, 2010 - Cazaly's Stadium, Cairns

The Gold Coast's first trip up north looked like a nightmare on paper as Bendigo boasted AFL listed players Stewart Crameri, Bachar Houli, David Myers and Kyle Hardingham. The Bombers were well-placed on the ladder for a finals appearance while the Queensland-based team had recorded just two wins for the year. The game began exactly as expected with Bendigo dominating play in the first half and brought a 40-point lead into halftime.

Guy McKenna must have produced one of the greatest rev up speeches of all time at halftime as the momentum swung in the favour of the Gold Coast. The boys in red kicked seven goals to two in the third term and reduced the gap to just 10 points going into the final quarter. The tide continued in the favour of the Gold Coast when they broke out to a two-goal lead late in the final quarter but Bendigo was able to even the score to 89 apiece. The game looked certain to end in a draw until ruckman Zac Smith took a mark just seconds before the final siren.

The siren sounded and Smith found himself 40 metres out on a tight angle. Kicking against the wind, Smith was able to put through a point and seal the Gold Coast's third win of the season. Cairns native Charlie Dixon was instrumental with a three goal haul while midfielder Maverick Weller was exceptional through the middle. However, Smith was the hero for the day in an inspiring first victory at Cazaly's Stadium.

Final score: Gold Coast 13.12 (90) def. Bendigo 13.11 (89)


Gold Coast v Richmond Tigers - AFL Round 17
16 July, 2011 - Cazaly's Stadium, Cairns

Fans up north were excited with the news that the Gold Coast would return to Cazaly's Stadium in 2011 for the first home and away game ever to be played Cairns. An eerily similar situation saw the Suns enter the game with just two wins for the season and Bachar Houli would once again line up for the opposition in the far north, this time for Richmond. The highly fancied Tigers continued the trend by breaking out to a 36-point lead at quarter time.

The momentum shift came early this time for the Suns with a six goal effort in the second quarter, giving them a 3-point lead at halftime. A low scoring third term saw Richmond kick the only two goals of the quarter and took a 13-point lead into the fourth. The stage was set for the Suns to snatch victory late in Cairns once again and they wouldn't disappoint.

The Gold Coast found themselves 14 points ahead with just five minutes on the clock but a soccer goal from Robin Nahas ensured the Tigers weren't done with yet. A minute left on the clock and a 9-point lead to the Suns saw Richmond give in to the pressure and kick the ball out on the full in their defensive 50. Josh Toy iced the game with one last goal for the Suns in the final 30 seconds of the game. The 15-point win was the Gold Coast's second at Cazaly's Stadium and their third for the season.

Final score: Gold Coast 12.13 (85) def. Richmond 9.16 (70)


Gold Coast v Richmond Tigers - AFL Round 16
14 July, 2012 - Cazaly's Stadium, Cairns

Upgraded lights at Cazaly's Stadium allowed the venue in Cairns to host the first ever twilight game up north. The winless Gold Coast Suns entered the clash against a Tigers outfit that was locked in a battle for a top 8 spot and desperately needed a win. Richmond were the strong favourites leading into the game but it was the Gold Coast who came out of the blocks strongly with a two goal lead at quarter time. Much of the same in the second term as the Suns led by four goals at the major break.

A momentum shift of gigantic proportions allowed the Tigers to take a 3-point lead into the fourth quarter and looked to have a tired Gold Coast outfit beat. A goal with the outside of the boot from Maric opened up a three goal lead for the Tigers as the Suns looked dead and buried. Josh Caddy was able to pull one back for the Suns with just under four minutes to go. A series of simple errors from several Richmond players allowed Cairns native Jarrod Harbrow to storm through the midfield and close the gap to 4 points with less than 30 seconds to go.

A long bomb from Trent "The Cannon" McKenzie put the ball in the Gold Coast's forward 50 with just under 10 seconds to go and a hook kick from Brandon Matera found Rugby League convert Karmichael Hunt 25 out from goal. The siren sounded and Karmichael Hunt put through what was surely the biggest kick of his short AFL career to win the game after the siren. Just as it happened two years previously, a Queenslander won the game for the Gold Coast with a kick after the siren in Cairns. Ironically enough, Bachar Houli, a three time competitor in Cairns, was Hunt's direct opponent in the finals seconds of the game.

Final score: Gold Coast 13.12 (90) def. Richmond 13.10 (88)


Gold Coast v Richmond Tigers - AFL Round 16
13 July, 2013 - Cazaly's Stadium, Cairns

AFL fans in Cairns were excited to see the return of the match up in 2012 that will go down in folklore up north. Major improvement was shown by both teams in the previous 12 months and Richmond looked the real deal in 2013. Bachar Houli, the biggest loser in Cairns, returned for his fourth game in the tropics. The game started similarly to the year before as the Suns led by two goals after the first term. The Tigers hit back in the second quarter to lead at the major break by a solitary goal.

An evenly shared third term saw the Tigers lead by just 7 points going into the fourth quarter. The loss of key defender Rory Thompson in the third term looked to have opened the floodgates for the Tigers but poor accuracy in front of goal kept the Suns in the game. A Jack Riewoldt goal from the boundary gave the Tigers breathing space in the form of 16 points with 10 minutes to go.

Campbell Brown was able to close the gap to just 10 points in the last 4 minutes in what was starting to look very similar to the year before. High contact on Andrew Boston gave the Suns a chance to get within one goal of the lead in the last minute of play. Boston had the chance to replicate fellow Queenslanders Zac Smith and Karmichael Hunt by having a shot on goal that would keep the Gold Coast alive. Unfortunately, Boston didn't handle the conditions well as his kick swung across the face of goal. In their last game in Cairns, Richmond would record a 9-point victory.

Final score: Richmond 6.17 (53) def.Gold Coast 6.8 (44)


Gold Coast v Western Bulldogs - AFL Round 17
12 July, 2014 - Cazaly's Stadium, Cairns


There is something special about the Gold Coast Suns-Cairns connection that brings out the best in the players. Lets hope the Bulldogs game in 2014 is no different!
 

Matchu

Norm Smith Medallist
Apr 12, 2007
7,751
7,041
AFL Club
Port Adelaide
A few trends that are worth noting.
  • Gold Coast have always entered the fourth quarter behind.
  • Gold Coast have always mounted a late comeback in the fourth quarter.
  • A Queenslander has almost always had the opportunity to have a shot on goal that will either keep them in the game or win the game. (Zac Smith 2010, Jarrod Harbrow 2012, Karmichael Hunt 2012, Andrew Boston 2013)
  • With the exception of the VFL game, Gold Coast have always pulled a near capacity crowd in Cairns.
  • Two of four games have been decided after the siren.
 
Sep 30, 2010
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Katherine, NT
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A little bit off topic I think, but the GC franchise are 4-0 with games which have been decided after the siren

We had one in melbourne in 2009 I will try an find details

The 2010 Cairns game. (Funny thing from that season, I did not rate Zac Smith at all. Was close to my most hated player at the club. Saw him as useless. Oops

The Power game - our first win

The 'Karmichael'






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