The Gold Coast Suns are entering their third season in the AFL. With all the draft and recruiting concessions they have had, this is the year the Gold Coast Suns need to consistently perform like an AFL team.
With apologies to Richmond supporters, the Suns were rarely considered a legitimate AFL team for their opening two campaigns due to an excusable differential in game experience between the Suns list and their bigger bodied opposition.
In their inaugural season, the Suns won three games. It was roughly par with what was expected.
The following year, the Suns again won three games again.
Although the team did not degenerate, they should be disappointed in their lack of improvement over a space of 12 months.
With 30 games into the majority of their highly touted youngsters, the Suns can no longer use their lack of big bodies as an excuse.
Most young players spend their first two seasons dropping in an out of the team, but the Sun’s youngsters have been gifted with accelerated development at the highest level.
Even with their draft concessions and salary cap space to poach high profile players from other clubs for their inaugural season, the Suns have underperformed in their first two.
When compared to the two teams who entered the league before them, the Suns are a distant third.
In 1995, the Fremantle Dockers won eight games in their debut season. In 1996, they won seven.
In 1997 when Port Adelaide entered the AFL, they won ten games in their debut season. In 1998 they won nine before winning their first premiership in 2004.
Although the Suns entered the AFL without a strong history in the state leagues, they were given much more assistance in the draft than Port Adelaide or Fremantle in their inaugural seasons.
If high draft picks are not consistently making the team three years after being drafted, they’re likely to finish their third campaign as a draft bust.
While every team has one of the ‘best young kids in the country,’ the Suns possess about six or seven depending on who you ask.
It’s time for one of them to stamp their authority on the AFL as an elite player.
David Swallow, Harley Bennell, Dion Prestia, Charlie Dixon, Zac Smith, Steven May and Brendan Matera have all showed glimpses of brilliance. All should be considerably more developed than their peers from the draft class of 2010.
With lesser players who have previously been making up the numbers coming through, the aforementioned players need to start making more headlines for the Suns to succeed.
Last season, the Suns were competitive in half of their games and lost by less than two goals on three occasions.
Although it did not show on their record, they certainly made enough strides last season to confidently say they will have an improved record in 2013.
Carlton showed the ultimate act of complacency in round 22 last season when a shock upset ruled the Blues out of a finals appearance.
Earlier in the season, the Blues had been instilled as premiership favourites.
In the AFL any team can win on any given day, but 2013 marks the year that the Suns are no longer the first team crossed out when weekend tips are submitted.
Coach Guy McKenna is contracted until the end of 2014 but he is also sitting in what may be the most wanted coaching role across the league.
He’s ridden the hardships of blowout losses and coach-killing turnovers which are synonymous with young players.
This is the year he can lock himself into coaching the Suns for a decade and potentially their maiden premiership in three to five years time.
In Fremantle’s third season, they won ten games.
In Port Adelaide’s third season they won 12 and made the finals.
They’ve had their excuses for the past two seasons but this is the year they need to show they’ve gained something from all their blowout losses.
It’s time to put aside the ‘development’ clichés. The benchmark for the Suns is 8-10 wins.
Who’s in your ultimate team? Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. For the best odds on the game try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit.
Jack Petruccelle gave up a 50m penalty and a goal to young Sun Will Graham, after spoiling the ball away after it had gone…
Dimma was not happy with this kick out of bounds on the full from Touk Miller!
We’re taking a look at one player from each team that needs to make a difference this week, starting with the ANZAC Day games.
Damien Hardwick has predicted Toby Greene's one-match suspension will be upheld by the AFL tribunal, but the triple-premiership coach says he wouldn't ban the…
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.
