The Gold Coast Suns have plenty of cash to splash around, a young playing list and a fresh vibe that alludes confidence. However, after a year in the AFL, are they in better shape then the Brisbane Bears (who were based on the Coast between 1987 and 1992)?
At first thought it seems ludicrous to even contemplate that the Suns are no better than the Bears.
The Suns play and train at a stadium, while the Bears home was a country football oval with makeshift stands and tin sheds masquerading as rooms.
The Bears were ridiculed for everything, from the club’s first emblem which featured a Koala Bear, for introducing cerise into the playing strip for the 1989 season and for being based on the Gold Coast as opposed to Brisbane.
On the other hand, the Suns have been lauded for poaching Gary Ablett from powerhouse side Geelong, drafting a handful of talented young players and for winning three games in their inaugural season.
Unlike the Suns who were humiliated in their first outing, the Bears defeated North Melbourne at the MCG. It’s worth noting that the Kangaroos went on to play finals in the 1987 season.
The Bears won five games in their inaugural season, though the perception is that they were lucky to put a competitive team on the park in the early days.
By 1988 the Bears had amassed a list that included Warrick Capper, Roger Merrett, Brad Hardie, Jim Edmond, Mark Williams, Geoff Raines, Michael Richardson, Scott McIvor, Frank Dunell and youngsters Mark Mickan and Michael Kennedy.
Sure there was the farcical enforced trading of two players to the Bears by each VFL club at the end of the 1986 season, but the top end of the list was no worse than the Suns who have Gary Ablett, Michael Rischitelli and a small group of honest veterans.
The great hope of the Suns is that young guns David Swallow, Trent Mckenzie, Zac Smith and Josh Caddy all become genuine stars of the competition and are complemented by the shrewd recruiting to compliment Ablett and Rischitelli.
As the Gold Coast set out to attract quality players from other clubs, the administrative guile and coaching prowess of the Suns will be tested.
With only development coach Andy Lovell having any professional senior coaching experience, the Suns coaching panel is almost as inexperienced as their playing list.
The Suns need to entice Mick Malthouse north to oversee the development of senior coach Guy McKenna at seasons end. Then again, the Suns administration might not have the talent to source such a sought after figure.
It appears that Greater Western Sydney are light years ahead of the Suns when it comes to football administration.
The Suns will enjoy an extended honeymoon period so the real pressure won’t start until 2014. Then the Suns will be expected to be far more competitive than they were in 2011.
The comparison with the Bears though is interesting and not without some relevance. The Suns of 2011 showed that the Bears of 1987 were not as bad as some have made them out to be.
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Round 5 of the AFL provided plenty of action, from big scorelines to upset wins and pressure starting to build on some clubs and coaches already.
Geelong has been crafty and creative in its list management and has quietly assembled a very exciting young group of midfielders and half-forwards.
Brisbane co-captain Lachie Neale will be looking to lead his team to a victory against Melbourne in what will be his 250th AFL game.
It’s high stakes with five teams having lost their first three games of season 2024, and in desperate need of a win.
It could be a weekend for contenders to emerge, teams to hopefully break droughts, o and overall footy to have a party.
We’ve already seen what Jack Ginnivan is capable of at Collingwood with his ability to grasp big moments - how will he go against his former teammates?
