After what can only be described as an old fashioned flogging at the hands of Carlton, the immediate future of the Gold Coast Suns is brighter than we think.
Taking to the field with 12 debutants, the Suns possessed enough heart to play in the AFL but lacked experience, strength, endurance, awareness and skill.
Unfortunately for the Suns, heart only wins games when the game is in the balance.
The obvious signs pointed to lack of match fitness seen through missed tackles and poor decision making, but this is not the fault of the debutants.
It was expected of the mature age recruits to guide this young team through leading by example. Winning the ball from clearances is one of the most important statistics in football nowadays because it ensures you have first possession.
On Saturday night, Daniel Harris led the way with nine clearances on his way to 30 possessions, 13 contested. Assisted by fellow mature recruit Michel Rischitelli (31 possessions, six clearances) and number one draft pick David Swallow (17 possessions, five clearances), the Suns drew level with the Blues at 39 clearances each.
With tough bodies in the clinchers, the Suns are more than capable of winning contested football against a quality midfield comprising Chris Judd, Marc Murphy and Bryce Gibbs. One week ago, an equally fresh Richmond midfield took on the same Carlton brigade and got hammered in the clearance count 25-49. Had they drawn North Melbourne, Brisbane or Melbourne, the Suns could have won their inaugural match.
Leigh Matthews was quick to declare the Suns will win “between zero and none” games this year. This declaration is premature and we cannot assess the Suns until at least the mid-season break. This time last year we were quick discard Richmond as a competitive team with TAB Sportsbet paying out bets for a Tigers wooden spoon in round four! The Eagles went on the take the honour.
Although a 119 point defeat is not the ideal way to start club history, the Suns will have taken valuable lessons out of the game knowing they can win the ball against a quality opposition. Turnovers cost the Suns dearly and Guy McKenna will be working very hard with his young group on disposal by foot this week. Awareness and decision making will come later in the season.
There was still a lot the Suns fans can be excited about after Saturday night. Daniel Harris has returned to the AFL hungrier and stronger than ever before. Gary Ablett (23 possessions, 14 contested) will only be getting better as he overcomes off season injury. Youngsters Zac Smith, David Swallow and Harley Bennell all impressed and most importantly, the toughness of McKenna’s playing days is visible on the field.
The Sun’s will spend a lot of time chasing the ball and the off-season tackling work was evidenced through the tackle count 58-53, Suns leading. Collingwood and Geelong have proven the importance of a high tackle count.
We cannot adjudicate a game solely on statistics and watching the game, the Suns were completely outclassed but from their clearance work and tackling pressure, McKenna is adapting his young list to play some exciting football. The Suns could reduce losing margins by playing more possession football but we can praise Bluey on his intentions to take the game on as if he were still out there.
The Suns will win games this year.
Handles O'Love
Guest
I think (former Southport Shark) Nick Reiwoldt was the first name in the rumours.
Alfred Chan
Expert
Yes. Brisbane delisted Joel at the end of last year so GC picked him up for free.
Sherrin-Burley-Faulkner
Guest
Maybe a smart move by the Crows to lock him up, would be worth a couple of good draft picks if GC want him !. Is Tippetts brother on GC list ?.
Alfred Chan
Expert
Tippett (and Dayne Beams) was the very first name thrown into rumours when a GC team was announced. He signed a three year extension at the end of 2009 and is contracted till the end of 2012. That said however, there could be additional allure by then if GC develop into finals contenders. I'd say it would be unlikely through because Adelaide will be challenging over the comming years because so much of their list is aged 22 - 27.
Nathan
Guest
"Taking to the field with 12 debutants, the Suns possessed enough heart to play in the AFL but lacked experience, strength, endurance, awareness and skill" Hey, Alfred, I wish 'em luck as well but those five missing elements are ... you know, fairly important elements.
Sherrin-Burley-Faulkner
Guest
If they average around 20k for the year, they will have done well, my break up would be 13k GC, 4k nuetrals and a couple of K flying/coming to the GC for footy/week break etc, and this is the very reason why the governments were so keen to help with the stadium, because AFL club fans travel, and spend their money. 12,400 members today, it looks like they have had around 400 people sign on as members since their shellecking, ........... masochists all of them !!. BTW i did mention in another GC realted thread that GC should look to get GC boy Kurt Tippett back to the GC, to team up with Cairns boy Dixon in the CHF, FF possies.
TW
Guest
Apparently about 6,000 out of 12,000 odd Suns financial members made the trek up the highway to the Gabba. This was out of a crowd of 27,000 It is thought but cannot be proved that the balance of the Suns support in the crowd were non members or other AFL Club supporters from the Gold Coast - Very interesting if true. Carlton would have had some support base at the game as well from Melb and the Gold Coast. Did any AFL supporters on the Roar get to the game and check the supporter bases out. Trevor Auld the Suns manager has said that crowd figure "maybe" the sort of support the club can expect at Carrara, which as a capacity of 25,000 He is of course urging non members who are interested to get on board for the upcoming blockbusters at Carrara, or they will miss out. We will of course find out eventually if he is correct. Late stuff. The Suns have opened the bookings for the game against Richmond in Cairns.
Fool
Guest
Putting my money on them losing EVERY match. They should have went for rejects, but senior rejects, for the first couple of seasons to at least be competitive.
EricBloom
Roar Rookie
Gold Coast would not have beaten the dees or roos on the weekend but probably would have beaten the lions. They'll probably win more games than the lions this year.
Alfred Chan
Expert
Thank you for the TAB Sportsbet correction. McKenna won't be too cruel and put a kid on Barry Hall. Bock will take him and get slaughtered.
TomC
Guest
Couple of things, Alfred. Firstly, Sportsbet is not the same as TAB Sportsbet. It was the former, not the latter, who paid out on the Richmond wooden spoon. They have a bit of a history of paying out ridiculously early. Secondly, I'm not sure making 58 tackles in a game is really that impressive, when your opponent had over 400 possessions. Its probably slightly below average. Harris and Smith were certainly good, but I can't say Swallow impressed me all that much. I wouldn't judge him off one game, of course. Finally, if you really believe this: 'Had they drawn North Melbourne, Brisbane or Melbourne, the Suns could have won their inaugural match.' then you and I must have been watching different games, becuase none of those sides have ever looked as ordinary as the Suns did. Carlton have a solid side, but they won't be troubling the top 4. The real worry for the Suns hasn't even been properly exposed yet, and that is a lack of defensive key position players. Barry Hall could really hurt them this weekend.
Ricky
Guest
Well done to the GC on that clearance count. Brett Ratten should be seething.