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There was an odd build-up to Sunday’s Melbourne-Gold Coast clash. It seemed like one of those games where the interest levels rose out of sheer voyeurism.
“Imagine the pressure the losing coach will be under” – or words to that effect – were repeated ad nausea.
We’ve come to expect comments like these, but they weren’t alone in terms of painting the Dees and Suns as being in a similar position.
The presenters on one radio station Friday night took turns saying how much Suns were falling below expectations. Seemingly no partial observers, sans Dermott Brereton who called it perfectly, wanted to be seen giving them too much of a chance.
For a lot of last week, bizarrely, Melbourne were favourites.
In truth, the Suns were never going to lose to the Dees. Never.
Firstly, because Melbourne are so far off practically everyone else at the moment it’s not funny. Secondly, because whether it’s being noticed or not, Gold Coast have stepped up this year.
They’ve already reached their win tally of seasons one and two. It could’ve very easily been four wins had they managed one more goal against the Brisbane Lions.
The Suns are averaging 13 more contested possessions than their opponents, the best differential in the league.
Last year only six players averaged 13 or more effective disposals, and only two of them were under 22. This year there’s 11 players, six under 22.
Jaeger O’Meara looks like he could’ve debuted 12 months ago, Charlie Dixon took five games to double his career goal tally and guys like David Swallow and Dion Prestia have continued their gradual improvement.
Among the more experienced parts of the list, Jarrod Harbrow has been showing why he was poached from the Western Bulldogs and Greg Broughton has been a handy addition.
To be fair, the draw has been a factor. Going on 2013 results, though, the club’s draw has been comparable to Melbourne and Brisbane’s. They have as many wins as those clubs combined and their percentage of 98.6 is well ahead of even the Lions (72.8).
Right now, the Suns are the best AFL team in Queensland.
Like it or not, this is a team that has turned it’s first corner. To be more specific, my definition of Gold Coast’s first “corner” is to end the triple-figure losses and finish outside the bottom four.
Right now, I’m backing them to do both of those things. Melbourne, Greater Western Sydney and the Bulldogs are almost certain to occupy the bottom three.
The only uncertainty is whether Brisbane can muster up a challenge. They’ll have to wait till the end of the season to do that, because their draw for the next two months is tough.
As for the triple-figure losses, they only had one last year so with the improvement early on this season, it would be surprising if they had a relapse.
Previously, the only evidence of Gold Coast turning a corner was when Gary Ablett weaved his way out of traffic.
Some commentators mightn’t have latched on to it – and the Demon-centric fallout to Sunday’s 60-point win backs this notion up – but you can’t say that anymore.
Here come the Suns.