1. Gaz gets the win in game 300
This game was all about Gary Ablett, and although the Little Master didn't tear it to shreds in his 300th, he more than played his part. He finished with 37 disposals for the game – the 114th time he's topped 30 – and when the game got tight in the last term he stood up. Brad Scott sent Declan Mountford to Ablett to get some experience, and it was a long night for the fourth-gamer. The champion midfielder had 12 touches in the first term and then back-ended it with 13 in the last, including five of his 10 clearances. The dual Brownlow medalist added five marks and four tackles to continue his fine season. Most importantly, Ablett was chaired off on the winning team and kept the Suns' finals hopes flickering.
Full match coverage and stats
2. Tom Lynch bounces back
After goalless performances in his past two outings, most expected a big response from Tom Lynch – and the Suns co-captain delivered in emphatic fashion. Lynch kicked five goals and looked more like the man that took the competition by storm in 2016 and earned an All Australian berth. Manned by Scott Thompson for most of the night, the 24-year-old drifted into space and clinically converted a set shot from 30m in the opening quarter to get the ball rolling. He didn't look back, roaming all over Metricon Stadium to finish with 20 disposals and eight marks. His left footed dribble goal from deep in the left forward pocket capped a great night. Lynch jumped strongly for his marks, worked hard and finished well.
WATCH: Lynch leads the way with a bag
Yep, he's back! Five goals to Tom Lynch! #AFLSunsRoos pic.twitter.com/zIXfU3Osj3
— AFL (@AFL) July 1, 2017
3. Lindsay can't take his chance
In a season that has included being dropped once and suspended twice, Lindsay Thomas was a surprise inclusion in the Roos' team when Marley Williams was ruled out late with a back problem. He hadn't played senior footy since round five and, unfortunately, it showed. Thomas was bounced around between half-back and the midfield but didn't touch the ball until the 18-minute mark of the second term when a Tom Lynch snap fell short and into his arms in the goalsquare. The 29-year-old finished with 13 disposals and now has a nervous wait to see if he'll get another run next week.
It wasn't the game Lindsay Thomas would have liked to play on Saturday. Picture: AFL Photos
4. Hollywood comes to the Gold Coast
On Saturday night, a handful of Tinseltown stars took in the delights of Metricon Stadium on a midwinter's evening. 1980s muscleman Dolph Lundgren - best known for his work as Ivan Drago in Rocky IV - joined fellow actors Amber Heard and Patrick Wilson in the stands for Gaz's big game. The trio is in town filming the big-budget film Aquaman, also starring Nicole Kidman and due for release next year. Exactly what Lundgren made of Australia's indigenous football code is unclear, but judging by his Instagram account, he and his fellow stars had a good time.
5. Young Suns step up
While Lynch, Ablett and 100th gamer Steven May were all instrumental, the younger Suns stood tall. Jack Martin played one of his best games for the club and Ben Ainsworth will be hard to top for this week's Rising Star nomination after his four goals. Martin kicked two identical jaw-dropping goals in the first half when the home team set up its win. On both occasions he marked on the left hand boundary line 35m out and perfectly executed around-the-corner kicks to split the sticks. He finished with 22 touches and added three goal assists to his tally. Ainsworth, who missed a big chunk of the year with a quad injury, showed glimpses of why he was taken fourth in last year's draft. Two set shots, one mid-air soccer effort and a final term snap were all class.
Martin kicks his second and it's a ripper from effectively in the stands! #AFLSunsRoos pic.twitter.com/qlRIYhfDIq
— AFL (@AFL) July 1, 2017
