The Suns will rise, just later than expected
Roar Rookie By Keldab, 17 Jul 2012 Keldab is a Roar Rookie
- Tagged:
- AFL, Gold Coast Suns, Guy McKenna, GWS Giants
I think the expectations placed on the Gold Coast Suns this year were completely unrealistic and decidedly unfair.
After entering the competition and winning three games in their debut season, there was talk that the second year would see them win around 3-6.
Honestly though, in assessing each respective list in the AFL, how many second year players truly blossom? In fact the term ‘second year blues’ is a common one in the AFL, to explain form slumps in younger potential stars of the competition.
Battered and perhaps a little bruised from their first full preseason, they enter the season juggling higher expectations, learning the meaning of a work/life balance, combined with the fact that many would get the niggles and wear and tear that comes with young bodies playing senior football.
Some handle these pressures with maturity beyond their years, but I’d be confident saying that most would not get the balance completely right.
So multiply this by the unique situation that sees practically an entire team full of second year players, and is it any wonder that the Suns struggled to meet external expectations?
Perhaps that’s why the Guy McKenna re-appointment came as a shock to the greater football world, when perhaps internally at the club, they had a more measured and realistic expectation of where the Suns should and would sit in season 2012.
The comparisons that have been drawn with GWS and subsequent criticisms have been the strangest element of this story, given the Suns 2011 season statistically was pretty much identical, except with more ticks in the win column.
Let’s be honest, the second season was never going to be flash.
In fact the maturity shown in recent weeks by the Suns, makes a compelling argument that 2013 will see the Suns take this next step.
Perhaps though it should be seen as expected, rather than overdue.
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The Crowd Says (2) | Page 1 of Comments
Have Your Say
- Explore:
- AFL, Gold Coast Suns, Guy McKenna, GWS Giants
July 17th 2012 @ 8:51pm
Bludger said | July 17th 2012 @ 8:51pm | Report comment
You need 4 or 5 years in the AFL system to become elite. The Suns had too many rookies, they might never fully develop because they were exposed too soon. Only time will tell.
Suns should trade a lot for players who have had 5 odd years in the game to strengthen their list otherwise I would expect more beltings to come for another couple of season.
July 18th 2012 @ 11:25am
Kel said | July 18th 2012 @ 11:25am | Report comment
I honestly think the signs are there that they will have the maturity next year to tip close losses over into narrow wins. It will be GWS that will cop the beltings next year and will be exposed to the unjustified ‘alarm’ as a result.