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AAP
AAP
Sport
Martin Pegan

Suns beat Swans, extend AFLW finals surge

Charlie Rowbottom had a game-high 22 disposals in Gold Coast's AFLW win over Sydney. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

Gold Coast have kept their AFLW finals hopes alive with a commanding 34-point victory over winless Sydney.

The Suns set up their triumph as the rain started to fall early to lead by 22 points at the main break, then handled the slippery conditions better for a 7.7 (49) to 2.3 (15) win at Sydney's Henson Park on Saturday.

The result means the Suns continue their late-season charge toward a second finals appearance but the wet and wild conditions made it difficult to secure a significant percentage boost.

The Suns (4-3) ended the match sitting outside the top eight on percentage but could only lift it from 80.8 to 96.6 per cent with scoring tricky even against the struggling Swans.

"By winning today we've won our most games, we beat last year's 3 and a draw," Suns coach Cameron Joyce said.

"We're really excited about launching from here and taking on Melbourne next week."

Jac Dupuy looked more comfortable than most in the conditions and finished with two goals from 14 disposals for the Suns, while Allison Drennan collected 19 touches and Claudia Whitford also had 19 and added an early major.

The last two No.1 draft picks, the Suns' Charlie Rowbottom and the Swans' Montana Ham, enjoyed an enthralling midfield battle and were both among the best afield.

Sydney's Montana Ham battled hard for a team-high 15 touches in her team's AFLW loss to Gold Coast. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

Rowbottom continued her outstanding second season with a game-high 22 disposals, while Ham fought hard against the Suns' strong on-ball brigade to gather a team-high 15 touches.

The Swans (0-7) looked determined to claim their first AFLW victory with ferocious attack on the ball and tough tackling early and booted the first major of the match.

Rebecca Privitelli took a strong one-on-one mark then slotted the set shot to make an early impact after returning to the side following illness.

The 27-year-old Privitelli shook off a heavy bump from Suns defender Ellie Hampson late in the first term to be the Swans' main focal point and kicked their only other major with a smart snap in the third term.

"She just gives us a target up forward, a bit of a contest and she's also a leader," Swans coach Scott Gowans said.

"Unfortunately Brooke Lochland was a bit sick today, she really suffered. So we gained one but then lost another."

Lisa Steane (11 disposals), Sarah Skinner (11) and Lexi Hamilton (8) also embraced the trying conditions for the Swans to prevent the margin blowing out further.

The Suns have an opportunity to stamp their finals credentials when they face Melbourne on Saturday night, with winnable games against Carlton and GWS to follow.

The Swans will be on the road to continue chasing their first-ever AFLW victory when they face fellow expansion side Essendon earlier that day.

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