Gold Coast beat Eagles away for the FIRST time to pile more misery on injury-hit West Coast

Gold Coast have ruined the AFL return of Willie Rioli after coming from behind to post a 27-point win over an undermanned West Coast at Optus Stadium.

The Eagles skipped out to a 23-point lead early in the second term of Sunday’s match, and the margin was just four points in favour of Gold Coast with five minutes remaining in the clash.

But the Suns came home with a flurry in the dying minutes, with goals to Ben Ainsworth, Alex Davies and a double to Izak Rankine sealing the 16.11 (107) to 12.8 (80) victory.

Rioli, playing his first AFL match since the 2019 elimination final win over Essendon, provided two magical moments in the third quarter to help momentarily stem the Gold Coast onslaught.

The premiership forward nailed a set shot from outside 50m to shift the momentum back West Coast’s way.

And after the Suns had retaken the lead, Rioli put his body on the line in a mid-air crash with Rowell to ensure the star Gold Coast midfielder didn’t mark the ball in attack.

The ball spilled free, Rioli ran forward to accept the ensuing kick, and the piece of play eventually led to a goal to former Fremantle Docker Hugh Dixon.

The Suns had never beaten West Coast on enemy soil but cruised to victory in the fourth term

Matt Rowell played a starring role for his side to get their season off to a strong start

‘Fair play, it was a good hit,’ Rowell said.

Rioli finished the match with 12 disposals, six clearances and a goal.

Rowell starred for Gold Coast with 33 disposals and 10 clearance, while Rankine nailed four goals from 23 disposals.

Gold Coast won the inside 50m count 59-42, contested possessions 155-122, and tackles 57-37.

But the Eagles hung tough until the final few minutes.

West Coast entered the match missing 11 first-choice players including stars Dom Sheed, Elliot Yeo, Luke Shuey, Jack Darling, Oscar Allen, Jamie Cripps, Tim Kelly, and Liam Ryan.

Eagles defender Tom Barrass, playing his 100th game, produced the highlight of the opening term when he was mobbed by teammates after nailing his maiden AFL goal.

It was not meant to be for Willie Rioli, who played his first AFL game since 2019 on Sunday

West Coast midfielder Xavier O’Neill produced a party trick in the first quarter when he spun around while the ball was trapped behind his back before setting up a goal for Zac Langdon.

And he was at it again in the second term when he scooped up a loose ball inside a pack before spinning around and snapping truly.

Two goals to Levi Casboult for the term limited the damage, with the Suns reducing the margin to nine points at halftime.

Gold Coast hit the lead in the third term after Mabior Chol produced his best soccer imitation with a one-two touch for goal.

Rioli returned serve with some special moments of his own, but the weight of Gold Coast’s forward 50m entries eventually proved telling, with the dam wall breaking in the dying minutes.