Before analysing this match between the 15th and 16th teams on the ladder, consider for a moment last week's results, where Essendon and the Gold Coast lost by a combined total of 195 points. This was a match between two physically and emotionally exhausted teams: low on personnel, on energy and on spirit.
It's pointless wishing for a 17-round season when the AFL has just signed the richest broadcast deal in its history. But that doesn't change the fact that the season is too long, both from an aesthetic point of view and fairness. This deadest of dead rubbers was another case for that argument's prosecution.
Perhaps you could argue that Essendon had more to play for, with an untried coach, Matthew Egan, in the box and, we were told, the lifting of the pall that's hung over the club after the exit of James Hird.
But then, nearly half the Bombers' squad remain out of contract. For many, surely, the end can't come soon enough.
That's not to say both teams didn't play with pride. The Bombers, certainly, weren't the witches hats they looked like last week against Adelaide. But it was an error-strewn game, blighted by terrible kicking from both sides. Granted, both sides are fielding near-second string outfits, but it was an inglorious exhibition.
The finish, though, was thrilling. The Suns pinched an eight-point break at the first change, and extended it to three goals midway through the third, only to be pegged back again by the Bombers, who levelled the scores early in the last quarter courtesy of a running, bouncing goal by substitute Orazio Fantasia.
From there, the Suns peppered the goals, and eventually it was Nick Malceski, who has been far below his best, who seemed to have put the Bombers away with a raking shot in the last quarter. Most of the last quarter by then had already been played in the Suns' half; they looked the side with more in reserve.
But the Bombers came one last time, with goals to Hooker and Fantasia making the margin just three points with two minutes to play; at the last second, Carlisle had a flying shot that could have reversed the result, only for it to float wide.
The Bombers slumped. For them, it was a sad end to a sad week.
The Suns, though, always looked to have a little more in reserve, particularly for talent, as injury-hit as they are. Jack Martin, Harley Bennell and Tom Lynch were the players that stood up when their side most needed it, Martin's vertical leap and sure hands a delight; Lynch again a powerhouse in the air.
Martin could have sealed the result far earlier, with three behinds and an out of bounds in the last quarter to go with three earlier goals. He was one of the few players, though, that didn't look like he was swimming through quicksand. Teammate Adam Saad, excellent for so long in his first year, looked long overcooked.
Even normally clean players struggled. Michael Hurley's kick-outs more than once found opposition targets; down the other end, Steven May was less than his usual self against Cale Hooker. Much of the football was wasteful: despite collecting 66 more possessions overall, Essendon penetrated their forward 50 on 11 fewer occasions.
The Bombers were well served by Shaun McKernan, who kicked three goals to go with 26 hit-outs and 24 possessions, captain Dyson Heppell, always in the game, and veterans Brent Stanton and David Zaharakis.
The game had a lengthy delay in the third quarter when Suns forward Sam Day collided with Mark Baguley's hip and was taken to hospital with concerns over a neck injury.
Gold Coast 5.3 9.5 12.7 14.13 (97) Essendon 4.1 7.7 11.7 14.11 (95)
Goals: Gold Coast: Martin 3, Lynch 3, Bennell 2, Shaw 2, Hall, Day, Russell, Malceski. Essendon: McKernan 3, Heppell 3, Hooker 3, Dempsey 2, Fantasia 2, Laverde.
Best: Gold Coast: Lynch, Rischitelli, Martin, Kolodjashnij, Bennell, Hall. Essendon: McKernan, Heppell, Zaharakis, Hurley, Stanton, O'Brien.
Injuries: Gold Coast: Day (neck).
Umpires: O'Gorman, Chamberlain, Edwards.
Crowd: 16,253 at Metricon Stadium.
