Gold Coast has escaped the Giants in a tense Expansion Cup battle on Sunday night, which saw Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver clash for the first time since their respective trades.

The Suns had lost 15 of their past 16 meetings with GWS, but on a soapy night in Carrara, Gold Coast – which had stagnated in form – earned a much-needed win to keep pace with the AFL’s top four.

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Both sides rued inaccuracy, but the home side had enough polish to stave off a Giants outfit that kept pace with the Suns but squandered its chances to genuinely challenge.

“A great performance by the Suns. Everybody’s going to have a flat one – they had one last week – it’s how you respond, and they have done that,” Healy said.

Petracca starred with 29 disposals, two goals, nine score involvements and six clearances, while Oliver was impressive in his own right with 32 possessions, nine clearances and nine score involvements.

Jamarra Ugle-Hagan kicked a game-high three goals in a pleasing performance that will do his confidence wonders.

THE 3-2-1 (what we learned) …

3. ‘DOMINANT FORCE’ CLAIMS EPIC BATTLE OF EX-DEES

Aside from the Expansion Cup flavour, the big narrative going into Sunday night was the first meeting between ex-Demons stars Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver, and the clash lived up to the hype.

The premiership teammates went head to head at People First Stadium, and it was Petracca who burst out of the gates – kicking a goal from seven first-term touches – and impacted consistently throughout the night.

“Suns traded two first-round picks to get him, and he’s paying them back pretty quick … in the games that he’s played, he’s been a dominant force,” Fox Footy’s Dwayne Russell said in commentary.

Oliver, meanwhile, missed his chance streaming into goal, but the bullocking Giant was influential at the contest in his own right as he and pal Petracca engaged in several physical encounters from the outset.

After nabbing Noah Anderson holding the ball, Gerard Healy declared in the second quarter: “He’s flying, Oliver. He’s really having a game.”

Russell laughed: “The worst thing that could possibly have happened was Petracca dominating early – Oliver says ‘hang on, remember me?’”

At that point in the second quarter, Oliver had 16 disposals to lead allcomers.

At half-time, he had 20 possessions, while Petracca had notched 15 and a goal to the main change.

“He’s a good player, he’s a good man – we had a little cuddle in the first quarter, it was good,” Petracca told Fox Footy at half-time.

Healy told Fox Footy’s coverage at half-time: “The Suns have been led once again by Petracca – Christian was phenomenal early in the game. He faded a little bit, and then reasserted himself. When he gets the ball, things generally have been happening … when he gets the ball, his disposal has been really damaging.”

In the third quarter, Petracca had his second goal after pouncing on a loose ball in congestion near the goalsquare – spinning and throwing it on his boot.

Petracca’s final stat-line read: 29 disposals, two goals, nine score involvements and six clearances. He’d be the front-runner for the three votes.

Oliver had 32 possessions, nine clearances and nine score involvements in a performance not to be scoffed at.

2. ‘LOOKED AFTER ME’: JOYOUS JAMARRA’S GRATITUDE ON KEY NIGHT

Jamarra Ugle-Hagan’s footy comeback continues to trend in the right direction, and on Sunday night, he was the game’s leading goalkicker with three majors.

His performance – in just his second game for the club – included high marks and good presentation inside 50, and he got some reward on what was a night where the footy was slippery.

“The fans got around him … he’s happy out on the footy field – this is his happy place. It’s freedom for him, so I’m just so happy that he’s doing well,” Daniel Rioli told Fox Footy post-game.

Ugle-Hagan, playing his first Gold Coast home game, was then asked by Alastair Lynch what the occasion and output meant to him.

“To get another opportunity, a second chance, I’ve just been looked after here by Dimma – grabbed me with open arms, looked after me,” he said.

“This club’s amazing. Boys are supportive, yeah, it’s going well, I’m happy and it’s going good.”

On how his body is feeling after a minor knee procedure, he said: “Definitely (moving better). I had to get my meniscus cleaned up … feels so much better, I feel a lot more free, but yeah, just trust the club and trust the program.”

Four-time flag-winner Jordan Lewis said: “It has been a challenge for Jamarra to get back – it’s always good to see that … nothing has been given; he’s had to work his way back into the side.”

After six-straight behinds, the Giants had their first goal of the game through Aaron Cadman’s long-range effort.

The Suns led by nine points at quarter-time, taking the ascendancy in the turnover battle 3.2 (20) to two behinds.

“(The Suns) have dominated in theory, but not necessarily dominated when it comes to the scoreboard, as much as they could have,” Fox Footy’s Dwayne Russell said in commentary.

The Giants battled to gain some momentum in the second quarter, trailing by just four points at the main change.

Lynch at half-time said it was “encouraging” that GWS was looking to use the corridor and use their hands to try and pick the Suns apart – scoring 2.5 from their back-half chains.

“It has been a scrappy game, but I think the encouraging sign outside of what’s been inflicted on the scoreboard by the Giants, is their ability to get that running wave going off half-back,” Lynch said.

“The tsunami is back … we’ve seen it in tough conditions.”

However, a professional-looking Gold Coast outfit kicked four goals to two in the third quarter to take an 18-point lead into the last change.

“A great performance by the Suns. Everybody’s going to have a flat one – they had one last week – it’s how you respond, and they have done that,” Healy said.

1. ‘NOT HAPPY’: STAR’S ‘FRUSTRATION’ CONTINUES AS SUN’S TACKLE TO SPARK MRO DEBATE

An injury-interrupted year for Jesse Hogan continued on Sunday night, with the Coleman medallist battling a hip issue – as well as a cut hand – in Carrara.

Nine minutes into the second quarter, Hogan required treatment on the bench for an apparent hip issue, as explained by Lions great Alastair Lynch at boundary level.

“He limped off with what appears to be a right hip injury,” he said.

“He’s not happy at all.”

Lynch added a short time later: “I reckon he’ll come back on, but he’s just not comfortable at all … he went off just frustrated.

“He wanted to go down to the rooms, they talked him into staying up – he just hasn’t got off to a great start.”

It came after Hogan split the webbing in his right hand in the first quarter, causing it to bleed profusely.

He was able to return to the field of play in the second quarter, though was kept goalless to half-time before getting on the scoreboard in the third term.

He finished his night with one goal from eight disposals.

It comes after the veteran recovered from foot surgery in the preseason, and then missed the Sydney Derby due to a quad issue.

Later, in the third quarter, Giants wingman Ryan Angwin was concussed in a Sam Clohesy tackle that’s set to spark Match Review discourse.

The question will be whether Sam Clohesy’s tackle was a reportable offence, after it was adjudged by the field umpire at the time as dangerous.

Whether there was enough force applied by Clohesy will be a key point, while it’s worth noting that Angwin’s left hand was free to protect himself – though he wasn’t able to as his head made significant contact with the turf.

Given Angwin was concussed, if the act is deemed reportable, the ‘impact’ is likely to be graded as ‘severe’, which paves the way for a three-week suspension for Clohesy.

Gerard Healy stated: “I think he’ll have a case to answer.”

Angwin, set to be placed in protocols, won’t play next weekend.

Re-live Gold Coast vs GWS in our blog below!