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After a very positive start to 2016 – three wins from three rounds and beating a team that was then a premiership favourite in Fremantle – the Suns couldn’t put together a strong season.
They weren’t able to cope with the constant flow of injuries for the second year running, including one to captain Gary Ablett, who was looking like getting back to typical Gary Ablett form before injury struck.
After Round 3, the Suns managed just another three wins to finish a lowly 15th. The only great win of those came against a confident St Kilda who were on the back of a win against Geelong. The fact that Gold Coast are still yet to make the finals has put pressure on the committee and Rodney Eade has worsened his coaching record despite people failing to see how well he has coached in spite of his side’s injuries.
The Suns (and Lions) had such bad seasons that many footy nuts and media personnel called for the Queensland teams to merge into the ‘Brisbane Suns’ or ‘Gold Coast Lions’.
Dion Prestia and Jaegar O’Meara wanting out further soured the Suns’ woes. But the truth for Gold Coast is that they appear to have enough players in the team that have the skill and grit to get them into the finals, it is just a matter of getting enough of these players fit and out there together for long enough to form a talented team, as opposed to having to change the side so much each week.
Back to this season, though, and players that were able to get out on the park consistently and give Gold Coast supporters hope were Steven May, Tom Lynch and Aaron Hall.
Steven May
Was captain of the Suns for part of the year and has been among their best, but his regrettable high bump on Stefan Martin saw him miss five matches was something, as a leader, he shouldn’t have done. But that is reflective of his hardness around the ball and that happens sometimes.
Positively, though, he had his highest number of disposals per game with 16.5 – not bad for a key defender – and used the ball efficiently, the second best in the team with 82 per cent. His marking has consistently improved in recent times, and this year saw his best return with 6.5. May uses the debated double-fisted spoil often when he can take a mark which drags that number down.
He led Gold Coast for intercept possessions with 6.6, meaning more than one-third of his disposals came about in this manner. He has the ingredients to lead the footy club in the future but will need to channel his aggression if he is to be a future captain. He has missed nine games because of suspension, being found guilty five times. Whether it is a maturity thing that comes with age or just part of his package is something we will find out in the upcoming years.
Tom Lynch
Took out the best and fairest and, up until the final couple of rounds, was in contention for the Coleman medal, eventually finishing equal third on 66, more than double his closest teammate, Peter Wright.
Lynch led the league in contested marks with 62 at almost three per game, again double his closest teammate.
Lynch passed the 100-game mark this year in Round 22, kicking two goals. As part of the Suns’ leadership group, he has certainly played well but also shows the way in training.
Fortunately for the Suns, Lynch’s best can match it with anyone in the AFL. In a team that is constantly losing, he has stood out exceptionally well.
Aaron Hall
Hall has averaged almost 28 disposals this season to lead Gold Coast. Despite missing five games, he had an outstanding breakthrough season, having his best season in average disposals, disposal efficiency, contested possessions, metres gained, score involvements, marks, tackles, rebound 50s, inside 50s, intercept possessions and fantasy points.
Hall didn’t just beat a lot of those stats, he smashed them. Even great players with massive seasons don’t usually break so many personal records by so much.
Hall had his first full season in the midfield and as reflected above, the 78-gamer made his fifth season an amazing one. Gold Coast fans have seen glimpses in previous seasons, but saw brilliance on a weekly basis this year. Hall is a dangerous player that the Suns’ opponents will fear – and rightfully so!
As ambitious as it may sound to the outsider, Gold Coast simply must make the eight in 2017. If they tread water, you can guarantee the media will say that they’re in turmoil. That is providing the injury bug doesn’t strike for a third successive year at the battered Suns. They need to prove to themselves, their fans and the AFL that they are a team to be reckoned with.
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