The Gold Coast Suns without Gary Ablett are basically just GWS. The only surprise is that this wasn’t as obvious as the false outrage that was always going to occur after Tyrone Vickery gave Dean Cox his comeuppance.
Cox started something, and Vickery ended it. That’s all she wrote.
But I digress…
Football is a team game. We know that. But you can’t just take a player who is at the pointy end of the conversation about the best man to ever play the sport out of a side like the Suns and expect them to go on their merry way.
It’s always bemusing after a Gold Coast win to hear things like “the Suns are more than just Gary Ablett”. No they’re not. They’re less. Much, much less.
It’s not just Ablett’s 35 touches that Gold Coast are missing, it’s the next 30 that his side get from them, almost always in a beautiful position to move the team forward.
More than the disposals, it’s his balance and poise that are also gone, his vision and judgement, his decision making and skill.
The flow-on effect from removing Ablett from the side can’t be quantified, except by what we’re seeing on the scoreboard.
When he wins the ball at a stoppage situation, he draws two and three opposition players to him, along with the tagger already hanging off his back. Because of his strength through the core, he is rarely caught holding the ball, and with no so much attention on him, he has free teammates in the clear.
Watch Gary Ablett the next time he is swung in a tackle. It’s almost like he wants it, letting the tackler take him to where he wants to release the ball.
Since Ablett’s injury, how often have we seen Suns players just bang the ball on the boot out of a stoppage, a panic ball, even when they’ve got time? Fellow midfielders can run forward with confidence when Ablett’s there, knowing he’ll find a man in space, who can then release it to them for a kick inside 50 or a shot at goal.
Forwards can lead early, either getting separation from their defender for a lead to be honoured, or pushing out to clear space behind them for another teammate to run into.
Ablett also covers so much ground, he is a spare man in defence to help his backmen out. Sometimes it’s just for a cheap handball out the back, for which he is often criticised, but it’s better to have that option than not, especially as he is always looking to be creative.
Now the same backman may be forced just to kick down the line, which an opposition always wants.
All three areas of the ground miss the little champ.
Now it’s time for the heat to go on Guy McKenna. He must be questioned on how he has prepared his players without Ablett’s coattails to ride on.
As an educated football mind put to me on Twitter on Saturday, there’s no shame in the Suns badly missing, at least, the best player of a generation. But there is shame is not acknowledging their shortfalls without him.
If the vast array of talented Suns were getting a bit ahead of themselves, this should be a valuable lesson to them. If taken the right way, this will make them stronger, hungrier, and just plain better footballers.
They are not what they thought they were. But this doesn’t mean they can’t still be on track to where they want to go.
The Gold Coast Suns without Gary Ablett are just another bottom-four side.
But his absence today may help propel them up the ladder tomorrow, more than his presence now ever could.
Gecko
Guest
Not how the Coz reference was relevant in an article about the Suns, but it's sure sidetracked the discussion. Cameron, you provided a good summary of Ablett's impact on the team. We could also add that he takes up most of the opposition midfield's attention. When he's absent the opposition midfield can be far more attacking and free-wheeling, knowing they're unlikely to be exposed. If they have a tagger, he can go to one of the Suns' younger midfielders, shutting down the midfield completely. Ablett is not the most vocal AFL captain but he does invoke discipline and team structure, and without him there's almost no leadership. I think we've seen a similar lack of leadership and confidence at GWS when they were without Mumford, and at Richmond when they were without Maric and Deledio. And the Kangaroos have lacked leadership since Carey departed.
Darcy
Guest
You are all way to hard on the young suns. Sure Gary Ablett is there leader and easily the best player in the competition but their injury list is bigger than any others clubs and is full of key players. Too many critics.
Cameron Rose
Expert
Good points as usual Ryan. Definitely, the more experienced and better the side, the more capable they are of covering losses (no better case in point than Geelong in 2011 - easier to do with 15 or so All-Australian quality players around). GC have StK at home, Carl away, Port at home, Ess away, and WC at home to finish the season. We'd expect GWS in the same situation to win one of those, maybe two at a stretch. If GC can't win more than one, we'd have to say them minus Gary is the same as GWS. We all love that top end young midfield talent at the Suns, but now it's time for them to really get their hands dirty. They'll be ridiculously good in time, but not in the next five weeks.
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
Wouldn't say they have fully been unleashed Moose. I reckon in 2016 they'll get their midfield firing as it can and those forwards will just relish the opportunities. The real question will be who kicks more on any given day. If they can develop they will be like Sydney - big forwards who, when all playing, cannot be contained. Only, GWS will be a lot worse (in terms of "ahh...!" factor)
Moose
Guest
Good article Cameron. Although I would suggest that GCS without ablett is a whole lot less than GWS. GWS have two bona fide power forwards, plus Tom Boyd that make their potential so much more than GCS in my opinion.
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
Still remember good old meme from Suns in early days (or the Ablett days- are they still upon us... http://i43.servimg.com/u/f43/17/23/73/28/ga10.jpg I also could barely read this article, so well written for humour... http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/gold-coast-suns-discover-they-have-players-other-than-gary-ablett/story-e6frf7jo-1226985627386?nk=105026bef9b313eec7562ad7a9b5cb8b
Don Freo
Guest
Sun Sun...oh! Freo already has one of those.
Ryan Buckland
Expert
It'll surprise you to read me say "yes, but..." I think your central point (take out the best player of the past couple of decades and expecting things to carry on is bullocks) is incredibly hard to argue against. Its all relative, though. Say he was playing for Hawthorn - you wouldn't expect the overall output to go down to the same extent it has at Gold Coast by virtue of Hawthorn having better quality inputs around him. That being said, assuming everything was going to be fine was always a bit like "really, Guy?" [a side point: I don't know what else he could've said to the media when asked the question] However, as a couple of other comments have said, its only been a couple of weeks. The Brisbane game was freakish - how the Lions could have 14 freaking scoring shots in torrential rain is beyond me - and against the Bulldogs they were coming off a pretty big (physically, mentally and emotionally) win against Collingwood the week prior. Saying they are on par with GWS is going a bit early, for mine. Pretty much the entire list has been playing AFL exclusively with Gary Ablest Jnr in the side. The bloke demands the ball (I don't mean actually going around and shouting "give me the ball" although I'm sure that happens to some extent), he kicks goals, makes tackles, busts tackles, wins clearances. The rest of the team has only ever played in situations where he is there doing all of that stuff. So I'd give it a bit of time, and I reckon a midfield made up of O'Meara, Bennell, Swallow and Prestia in the core will come good.
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
Too much of a stretch. I expect Suns to be in finals next year and Giants 9-13. They should be hoping for that at least anyway, bare minimum for both.
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
Agree. I pegged them for a form drop with Gary Ablett, so any surprise they drop without him? If they lose this week...oh dear Ablett?
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
GG. - God's Grandson? The protege? The Rising son? Suns' saviour The Sun of sons I could go on...
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
Cameron got one thin right in that article. Swans v Freo GF (in my opinion...) I guessed the Suns would drop although I did not think it was to be without Ablett. Ablett really can't be Suns only beacon of light if they have lost numerous times with him as well. Coincidence they have lost? No it has hurt them but is not the only reason. I would suggest some tired bodies and just a general form drop - which even some of the bets sides go through.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
The son of the son of god at the Suns no less.
alicesprings
Guest
Ha..i wonder what nickname will be given to the son of the son of god..
Pillock
Guest
GWS are going to have to keep Mumford on the park a lot more if they are going to improve their ladder position next year. Will be hard for the ageing warrior. It's not just the Suns but lots of inconsistent form all over the place, and not just North Melbourne. Looks to me like the "middle range" players at lots of clubs are losing form or running out of gas as the season progresses. The harder older bodies seem to be winning out.
Kreyn
Roar Rookie
That midfield without Ablett is not even close to the best midfield in the competition.It's his mere presence that elevates the rest of them to another level. This is the same midfield that couldn't get their hands on the ball against Brisbane on the weekend. And if I had my pick of any midfield in the competition, I wouldn't start with Fremantle but that's an argument for another day.
Don Freo
Guest
Clearly AA ruckman? If they take 2 of them. The other one is likely to be top 3 in the Brownlow.
Don Freo
Guest
Bombers will drop out...for Collingwood.
Don Freo
Guest
Gene I think the tribunal has made it clear that you need a visit to Specsavers. You must be the only person in Australia still arguing that. Interesting that Nic Naitanui is a spokesperson in WA against one punch attacks. Perhaps a reason why the West Coast response was measured. You might call that controlled response weak...I call it integrity. Hitting a bloke to take him out of the game so you can win lacks integrity.
Don Freo
Guest
That was only Craig Hutchinson questioning that. It's not as if someone who knows footy was questioning it. Lyon and Lloyd shot him down.