Suns skipper Gary Ablett has injured his shoulder in the Gold Coast's clash against Collingwood.
Michael Rischitelli and Jarrod Harbrow celebrate the close win over Collingwood. Picture: Adam Head Source: News Corp Australia
GARY Ablett's bid for back-to-back Brownlow Medals is in tatters and the Gold Coast's finals hopes are on a knife's edge after a night of carnage at Metricon Stadium on Saturday night.
Ablett sent shock waves throughout the AFL when he dislocated his left shoulder in the third quarter as the Suns produced their best-ever win with a courageous five-point victory over Collingwood in an absolute thriller.
ABLETT'S SEASON, BROWNLOW CHANCES IN DOUBT
The Suns played most of the final quarter with no players on the interchange bench as Ablett (shoulder), Charlie Dixon (calf), Trent McKenzie (hamstring) and Sean Lemmens (concussion) were all out of action.
Ablett will have scans on Monday to assess the extent of the damage and time out of the game but the fact the shoulder went straight back into the socket relatively easily is a positive sign for the dual Brownlow Medallist.
Gold Coast skipper Gary Ablett is expected to miss a fair chunk of the season with a shoulder injury. Picture: Adam Head Source: News Corp Australia
But any time on the sidelines for the AFL superstar could cripple the Suns' bid for a maiden finals berth with the Gold Coast clinging to eighth spot on the ladder.
Ablett was imposing his considerable will on the contest and was well on top of Macaffer and had 19 disposals to his name after being held to just six touches in the first term in front of a record crowd of 24,032.
Gold Coast led by four points when Ablett was taken from the field after goals to Tom Lynch and Sam Day saw the home side surge to the lead on the back of the captain's blistering start to the third quarter.
David Swallow lifted for the Suns in the final term. Picture: Adam Head Source: News Corp Australia
The Suns led by as much as 10 points late in the final quarter but the Pies surged home late. Clinton Young dropped an uncontested mark in the dying minutes that would have led to a certain goal and put Collingwood in front.
The Suns led by a goal at the last change after Collingwood kicked just five behinds in the third quarter. The Pies' last 10 scoring shots up until three-quarter time break were all behinds.
Collingwood led by 11 points at the main break after dominating most of the first half without really putting the Suns to the sword on the scoreboard.
They should have been much further in front given the 29-16 advantage in inside 50 entries.
Collingwood's Travis Cloke was influential in the first term. Picture: Adam Head Source: News Corp Australia
The Magpies enjoyed a 19-point buffer early in the second term and looked set to tear the Gold Coast apart but the home side showed maturity beyond their years to stem the flow to claw their way back into the match.
The Suns were flustered, frustrated and flighty for a large chunk of the opening two quarters as they were guilty of butchering too much ball and handing the Sherrin to the Pies on a platter.
Steele Sidebottom calls for help. Picture: Adam Head Source: News Corp Australia
But Collingwood kept the Suns in the contest with inaccurate kicking and poor decision-making in the second term as they failed to capitalise on their early superiority.
Collingwood led by 13 points at quarter-time after dominating clearances (15-9) and inside 50 entries (15-9) in the opening term with Cloke (nine disposals), Swan (eight disposals) and Dayne Beams and Pendlebury with seven touches each.
Ablett was kept to six disposals for the opening quarter but had nine touches in the second term as he led the charge to keep the Suns in the hunt.
Charlie Dixon injured his calf against the Pies. Picture: Adam Head Source: News Corp Australia
Cloke had a roller-coaster ride of a night. He poked himself in the eye with his own thumb and had five shots at goal up until half-time with a return of 2.3.
Suns coach Guy McKenna said before the match his players would target Cloke verbally but he looked dangerous early and force the Suns to move Steve May in favour of Rory Thompson for the one-on-one match-up.
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