It was almost ironic that Gold Coast would be the club that would select Peter Wright. Since their start in AFL drafts in the past five years, the Gold Coast have been renowned for taking the most talented players available.
And yet as Gold Coast approach their fifth year, questions are being raised whether the right picks have built the right team to challenge for a premiership.
Because of the draft concessions that Gold Coast were afforded at their inception there was always going to come a point when the need for young talent was outweighed by the need of experience. That time has now come.
Off-field they secured that experience with a new coach in Rodney Eade. On the field this was simply emphasised with the club making minimal list changes and using just three picks, all inside the top 30.
Those three picks were all used on the best or most talented available at that point. Peter Wright was a one-time talked about top pick. That Gold Coast got him at eight is classed as a steal.
Jarrod Garlett had a similar skill set to teammate Jarrod Pickett, who was a top five pick. Touk Miller was Vic Metro captain and a classy midfielder. In Wright, Garlett and Miller the Gold Coast again picked up what is on paper the three correct picks.
They even appear the right picks considering the needs of the Suns. Ruck is still a question mark with both Tom Nicholls and Zac Smith unable to secure the number one spot. Wright is talked about as a forward ruckman, but he could become the Suns’ number one ruck before his first season ends.
Wright also gives new coach Eade options with either a versatile and youthful sole, duo or trio ruck combination. Depending on which way Eade goes, Wright, Smith and Nicholls could revolutionise the ruck position again.
As for Garlett and Miller, both add to areas of the team where they could use more depth. Garlett does have some flair as a small forward, but is probably a likely quick upgrade over Aaron Hall. Miller, meanwhile, brings obvious leadership to a team that will still need it, and has the combination of ball winning inside and pace outside to become a serviceable AFL footballer. Again both Garlett and Miller help give more depth where needed.
And yet for all of these seemingly right moves at the draft the questions will linger. This is a team that has continued to excite at times but has underwhelmed when it has mattered most. The excitement of their first game was let down by a big loss, the excitement of their second season was let down by a lengthy losing streak and the excitement of last year’s finals run was let down by a meek ending.
For all the right moves, on the field they keep on letting down.
The progression is steady, the right picks have been made. Now the right result is finals football. Anything else would be another Gold Coast letdown.
Follow Cameron on Twitter @MTC_MIKETOCAM
SportsFanGC
Roar Guru
Macca - I do tend to agree with your thinking but the Gold Coast due to the early concessions they received in starting up the Club went into the 2014 draft with the mentality and mantra of best available kid at their first pick (rightly or wrongly) as opposed to drafting for a specific need. There is a lot of talent across all areas of the ground and if the big men have intense competition for spots this can only be a good thing for the Suns in 2015. What ever happens 2015 promises plenty for the young Suns.
Don Freo
Guest
Wood? Tee hee.
Macca
Guest
SportsFanGC - While I admit you need depth to cover injuries etc but you can get that from the rookie draft (like Carlton got Wood last year) not with pick 7. Looking at the list you have if you play Linch DIxon & Day forward it is unlikely you would also squeeze in a ruck/forward, so Wright & Gorringes and probably Nicholls aren't in the side (Dixon would have to be the ruck forward) Smith has also shown enough mobility to indicate he could be coached to take more of a ruck forward role which would allow them to play both Nicholls and Smith which means Wright, Gorringe and 1 other forward (probably Day) are out of the side. Whichever way you look at it to get Wright in the side he needs at least 2 injuries and be ahead of Gorringe (who you refused to trade) in the pecking order - that isn't a great use of a number 7 pick.
SportsFanGC
Roar Guru
Macca - If the Suns had a fit list of big men for an entire season they would like for the following to happen: Permanent Forwards - Lynch, Dixon, Day Permanent Defenders - Thompson, May Ruck - Smith, Nicholls Ruck/Forward - Wright, Gorringe At the moment, rightly or wrongly, Gorringe is the one that has the most to prove as he has been consistently injured for his entire AFL career. All clubs need a stockpile of talent because injuries happen and as we saw with the Suns this year they lost regularly when their big man division was injured at the end of the season.
SportsFanGC
Roar Guru
Bazza what talent has been trickling out of the Suns the past two years? The only kid off the top of my head that wanted to leave the Suns was Josh Caddy who went to Geelong, pretty much all other players that have left the Gold Coast were delisted by the Club. If you knew anything about the Gold Coast, either the City or the Suns, you would know you are just simply perpetuating a common stereotype with that Party Place rubbish. This team is brimming with talent, they have the best player in the AFL as their leader and they have done an exceptional job inthe free trade and draft periods in 2014. Finals footy is an absolute must in 2015.
bazza
Guest
Picking the right talent still wont win them a flag for a very very long long time..Seeing as that talent is trickling out of the joint these past two years..GOLD COAST is a Party place..No footy club shouid bother with it..
Macca
Guest
You may be right that they haven't got the ruck spot settled but it is still a big risk to at 8 when it his highly probable that 1 of Nicholls, Smith or Gorringe (who they didn't want to trade back to Adelaide by the way) could easily emerge as a quality ruckman, and with Dixon and Lynch looking slid in the forward line you could end up with no spot for a top 10 pick.
Cameron Palmer
Roar Guru
Hi Macca, No doubt that Gold Coast have height on their list, but I do not think they have the ruckmen they desire at the moment. Nicholls and Smith have shown good signs but have not locked away the ruck position. I think there is a good chance that Wright ends up being the ruckman of the future and the ruck when Gold Coast play finals. Thanks for the in depth research though, I appreciate it.
Macca
Guest
"They even appear the right picks considering the needs of the Suns. Ruck is still a question mark with both Tom Nicholls and Zac Smith unable to secure the number one spot. Wright is talked about as a forward ruckman, but he could become the Suns’ number one ruck before his first season ends" I question this, the suns now have 6 players listed at 200cm or more with Tom Lynch at 199cm and Leslie Jack 198. Footywire.com have Smith (205), Nicholls (200), Gorringe (200) and Jack all listed solely as ruckmen with Wright (203) and Dixon (200) listed as Ruck forwards, with Rory Thompson (200) listed as a defender. Assuming Lynch & Dixon play the 2 key forward spots you essentially have 4 ruckmen competing for a maximum of 2 spots which would leave the Suns with a forward line containing 3 200cm plus players and a 200cm plus ruckman.
andyl12
Guest
I think McKenna was sacked because it was felt he might've been good with youth development but not good at taking them to the next step. Eade certainly has experience at taking teams the next step and I'm confident he can do that. Whether he has what it takes to win them a flag remains a big question.
Don Freo
Guest
I think they are nicely on pace. Injuries alone cost them a finals spot. The only question is whether Eade is up to McKenna's standard as a coach.