3 minute read

Jack Bowes' late goal has helped Gold Coast home in another tight contest for a third win in four AFL rounds, heaping more pressure on the winless Carlton.

Jack Bowes' last-minute snap has pinched a two-point victory for Gold Coast and cruelly kept Carlton winless in a scrappy AFL comeback Suns coach Stuart Dew likened to The Benny Hill Show.

Trailing by 11 at the final break, the Suns somehow found a way despite constant fumbles to secure a 8.11 (59) to 8.9 (57) victory, putting them on an equal-high three AFL wins after four rounds.

Bowes emerged from the pack to sneak a 15m effort over the last man, with the ball rolling through with 13 seconds on the clock.

"It was a bit of The Benny Hill Show ... I thought (errors) might cost us the game today and something like that comes out," Dew said of Bowes' left-foot snap.

"The emotion was a bit (of a) rollercoaster to be honest ... but if you dig in for four quarters, you give yourself a chance.

"It was that kind of day and both clubs sit there and take a breath and we're the lucky ones, that we get four points for our effort."

It was as if The Benny Hill Show's theme song was playing when Peter Wright's fumbled mark spilt over for a behind when destined for a goal if left.

Blues star Patrick Cripps goaled immediately to give the visitors a four-point lead they clung to until the final stages, as both sides butchered chances.

Cripps (30 disposals) and Sam Walsh were shining lights for the visitors, with Cripps' snap creating a three-goal buffer in third quarter.

Carlton coach Brendon Bolton admitted his side lacked the composure to ice the contest, praising the Suns' determination and ruing another near miss.

"When the game's on a knife edge like that, there's lots of little decisions ... there's going to be some good, strong, hard lessons learnt from that," he said.

All four of the Suns' game margins this year have been within five points.

Suns teenager Wil Powell (concussion) was slung headfirst into the turf by Will Setterfield, who could come under scrutiny despite going unpunished on field.

Touk Miller (31 touches) made nine first-quarter tackles but lost his kicking radar in the final quarter when stuck in two minds.

"You can see it (the right intentions), but execution was a bit off," Dew said.

"When you get frustrated - and I know we all would have been - (you just have to remember) what was their intention."