Live: Now or never for Dons and Suns aim to take big step towards finals

What a quarter of footy that was, as the Suns hold a three-point lead heading into the final term.

With the Suns going out to a game high 15-point lead midway through the quarter, young Archer May stood up big time, kicking three majors in a row to give the Bombers back the lead.

It was end to end stuff from there, and the Gold Coast came out on top but didn’t look overly convincing in doing so.

Zach Merrett still leads the field with 29 touches, while Noah Anderson finally put his mark on the game and has 23 touches to go with his big goal in that quarter.

Matt Rowell has 15 tackles, so the Rory Laird record of 20 could be safe.

Meanwhile, there will be plenty of talk about Nate Caddy’s collision with the umpire, and I have to be honest, I have no idea how the AFL will look at that one.

It’s fast and furious at Docklands!

King gets the free kick for a push in the back and it’s definitely there.

He goes the right foot drop punt from the pocket and nails it!

Ned Moyle takes a strong defensive mark on the edge of the goalsquare, but decides to play on.

Isaac Kako puts enough pressure on him to make him nervous, and Moyle kicks it away in panic, missing his target and hitting Caldwell instead.

The Bomber converts and his team is back in front!

Gee they needed that the Gold Coast, just to settle things down.

Walter takes a big pack mark in the forward pocket and drills the kick.

It ain’t a pretty kick, but it’s good enough, and the Suns are back in the lead.

Oh Archer May is lighting Docklands up!

This time it’s off the ground in a chaos ball situation and he dribbles it through!

Bombers in front!

It’s back to three points and May is starting to light this up!

He gets the holding free kick about 50m on an angle, and the kick is HUGE! What a hoof from the kid!

The Bombers crowd is up and about!

It’s a nice little lead from May and he’s hit up straight on the chest.

He converts from 40m and the Bombers just won’t go away.

He hasn’t had a huge impact on this game, but Anderson gives the Suns the biggest break of the game here.

He collects the ball from a handball out of the pack and LAUNCHES from outside 50.

Great goal, and the Suns lead by 15.

A lovely mark from Moyle with the flight of the ball and he chests it on the edge of the goalsquare.

It’s a little dinky checkside and he converts.

Suns out by nine points.

We heard that one before we saw it.

There was a sudden and breathless groan somewhere off the ball, and both the umpire and Caddy look sore.

Could be interesting given the rule change during the week.

On replay, Caddy was running into the D50 on the opposite side of the play but wasn’t looking at all where he was going. The umpire was also moving into the corridor though and not looking back towards Caddy.

Both at fault in my mind, but who knows?

Great answer from Essendon!

Kako roves the pack 45m out, collects the pill, breaks a tackle, and hooks the Sherrin low for the major!

Perfect answer after a strong start from the Suns.

Matt Rowell hasn’t had much of the ball, but his inside-50 kick is elite, putting in a spot where only Budarick can get it.

Budarick converts nicely and the Suns get the crucial first goal.

It’s been an entertaining first half and the four-point lead probably flatters the Suns.

The Bombers have looked the better team across the field but three Suns goals straight out of the guts following Essendon majors have really hurt.

Matt Rowell has been quiet five touches, but has a staggering 14 tackles to halftime – the record in a game is 20 by Rory Laird in 2022.

Zach Merrett has 22 touches and has been crucial for the Dons, but Sam Durham has also been huge in his return from suspension.

Joel Jeffrey has looked just about the best for the Suns with 14 touches and a goal, while it’s good news for Lachie Weller, who appears to be back on the bench after an earlier ankle injury.

Massive half ahead.

For the third time the Suns have answered straight back, straight out of the middle.

King takes the pack mark from a hurried kick and converts!

Suns should take the lead into halftime.

Luamon Lual forces the turnover in the F50 for the Bombers and does the hard work perfectly, finding Archer May in the pocket who puts it to the goalsquare.

Caddy is under it but it looks like Mac Andrew spoiled him. However the umpire calls that Andrew never got his hands on the ball and took Caddy out in the contest. It’s the right call, and Caddy converts!

My colleagues Jon Healy and Henry Hanson wouldn’t have blogged a cleaner clean-bowled in our overnight Test blogs that what just happened at Docklands.

The play was started with a courageous running with the flight of the ball grab by Jye Caldwell at half forward, who then delivered a lovely kick to Wright, who dropped the mark he should have taken.

He makes it hard for himself by trying to stop and prop, and then kicks a dinky little ball around the corner that will be cleaned up by Andrew on the goal line … but it isn’t!

The ball bounces under Andrew’s arm and straight through him Big mistake and the Bombers are back within a kick!

Weller can’t put any weight on his right leg.

He has gone into the rooms with the doctors.

Ben Ainsworth hits Read up on the perfect lead, and the big fella has a shot from about 40m out.

He converts, and he has three!

That’s his first ever bag of three goals and we’re only halfway through the second quarter.

Isaac Kako finds space on the wing and goes for a big old run. He could almost go all the way with the space in front of him, but instead tries to hit up Nate Caddy.

Caddy misses the mark, but Mac Andrew drags him to the ground in the contest and it’s a free.

Caddy plays on from the free and rolls around onto his right like he’s Charlie Curnow, and absolutely hoofs the ball through the big sticks!

Exciting goal for the Dons!