AFL 2024 round 12 LIVE updates: Suns hold lead in tense final term against Bombers

Offt. In a game of margins, that was critical.

Essendon’s Jayden Laverde handed the ball back to the wrong person after a free was called, which gifted Touk Miller with a 50m penalty. He was marched to the big sticks, to put the Suns up by 11.

Gold Coast by 11

Matt Guelfi has drawn the margin down to less than a goal with just over two minutes remaining in the game.

Guelfi took the grab near the boundary and had a great finish to get the crowd on their feet. Big Bombers supporter base in the Gold Coast it turns out.

Gold Coast by 5

Well, this is getting interesting (or staying interesting, rather).

Bombers are keeping in this with Nik Cox booting his third goal of the afternoon and closing the margin to less than two goals.

Cox has been huge for the Bombers tonight, who before tonight, have only kicked multiple goals in a game once.

Jake Stringer then had a set shot, but it hung well to the left.

Gold Coast by 10

It was only seven minutes ago the game was all tied up but now Suns took deep in control after kicking the last three goals of the game.

The last of those through Thomas Berry.

There’s still a world for anything to happen this game but Essendon have been put on the ropes but just eight minutes to go.

Gold Coast by 17

Suns fans would have liked watching that.

Jack Lukosius was waiting unopposed in the goal square where he received the ball off Ben Long, and booted it through. Close your eyes, Essendon fans.

Gold Coast by 11

But the action’s happening faster than I can type or even hit send, with Jye Menzie tying it up again, before Ben King puts the Suns back in front.

Another goal to Ben Long, and another clearance to Matt Rowell, who has had a knack of responding when the Suns have needed him most tonight.

It’s a ripper contest between two rising teams, and still could go either way.

Gold Coast by 6

And that’s the third lead change within four minutes after a goal from Bomber Jye Menzie. How are the nails Bombers and Suns fans?

Scores level, 12 minutes to go

Sam Durham breifly put the Bombers in front after he was marched inside 50 with a 50m penalty. Durham marked it up the ground, but Charlie Ballard tackled him thinking he’d played on. To be fair, so would have a lot of people watching on.

Ballard looked pretty frustrated with the call but thankfully for him, and his side, Ben Long put the lead back in the hands of the Suns with his fourth goal of the game a minute later.

It’s a tense and tight final term.

Gold Coast by 6

It was a scramble in front of goal but Nik Cox managed to pick the ball up out of congestion and poke it through for a major.

It closes the game down to less than a goal.

Gold Coast by 5