Gold Coast’s miserable life in the AFL continued in 2016, with just six wins a stark contrast to their all-conquering expansion rivals. But, after capping off a terrible year with a turbulent offseason, the dark days may be far from over for the Suns.
Let’s have a look at the list changes made.
Additions: Jarryd Lyons (Adelaide), Pearce Hanley (Brisbane), Michael Barlow (Fremantle), Jarrod Witts (Collingwood), Ben Ainsworth, Jack Scrimshaw, Will Brodie, Jack Bowes, Brad Scheer, Max Spencer (draft)
Subtractions: Jaeger O’Meara (Hawthorn), Dion Prestia (Richmond), Nick Malceski (retired), Jarrod Garlett, Danny Stanley, Clay Cameron, Henry Schade, Luke Russell, Seb Tape, Tom Keough (delisted)
What happened last year?
An impressive three-game winning streak to start the year had many wondering if the Suns would rise after a woeful campaign in 2015, but soon enough it was the Gold Coast of old as the club dropped ten straight.
The Suns were a tad unlucky late in the year losing three straight by under ten points, but the average losing margin in their 16 losses was a hefty 45 points, as wildly inconsistent efforts plagued Rodney Eade’s side.
Injuries cruelled the club, but regardless of personnel, it was very hard to tell which side was going to turn up each week.
What’s changed?
Gold Coast’s horrid year continued into the trade period, with young superstar-midfielders Jaeger O’Meara and Dion Prestia finding new homes at big Victorian clubs.
While O’Meara hadn’t actually played a game for two years, much of the argument for the Suns’ improvement revolved around the amount of talent on their injury list, and he was undoubtedly the best player in their enormous medical room.
Jarryd Lyons is a solid pick-up, but while Michael Barlow and Pearce Hanley will add some depth, they’re older players coming off sub-par seasons for sub-par teams. Once again, Gold Coast will be relying on very green talent to get them over the line each week.
What needs to happen in 2017?
The loss of Prestia stings, but the Suns are otherwise starting to get it together in the middle of the ground.
Managing the game time, as well as time spent in the midfield versus up forward, for older bodies like Gary Ablett, Michael Rischitelli and Hanley will be key to ensuring the Alex Sexton’s and Touk Miller’s get the experience under their belt.
Gold Coast also desperately need to get more out of a younger key position player in 2017, with Sam Day’s season-ending hip-injury a cruel early blow.
As good as Tom Lynch, Steven May and Rory Thompson are, a breakout season from a player like Peter Wright, Keegan Brooksby or Jack Leslie wouldn’t go astray.
Gold Coast should focus on getting contracts in front of some key out-of-contract players.
David Swallow and Steven May are absolute must-signs, while they would also be looking at retaining Jarrod Harbrow. Calls will be made on Rischitelli, Matt Shaw, Trent McKenzie, Brandon Matera and Jesse Lonergan over the course of the year.
A repeat of last year’s trade period would be catastrophic.
The verdict
The Suns have forced their fans to endure many a false dawn over the last six years.
Young teams can turn the corner very quickly, but this was a bad list in 2016 and, in terms of its ability to make an impact in 2017, has gone further backward.
Another long year on the glitter strip.
Prediction: 18th
Stirling Coates
Editor
Thanks for the comment SportsFanGC, Straight off the bat I'll cop the David Swallow contract on the chin - that was poor research on my part and you've every right to call me out for it. I'm not as convinced about the other inaccuracies you've pointed out though. None of the other players you mentioned as having signed on to contracts were players I said hadn't signed. Barlow and Hanley are indeed in good pre-season form, but my comment on them (that they are older players who aren't coming off great seasons for good teams) is still completely valid. I did refer to Lyons in the article as a solid pick-up, and my reference to Rischitelli's game time needing to be managed didn't refer to the start of the season and had nothing to do with fitness. It is a valid question to ask whether a 31-year-old coming off an ACL injury should be spending time in the midfield (or even in the senior team) if it will take game time away from youngsters. For mine, the wildly inconsistent efforts the Suns have offered from week to week during the Rodney Eade era made it difficult for me to place them higher up the ladder.
George
Guest
Thanks SportsFanGC for appropriate and knowledgable reply. After reading Stirling's review I did not even bother to reply to such a nonsense.
SportsFanGC
Roar Guru
Stirling do even follow or know anything to do with the Suns? I ask that in all seriousness because this article looks like a rushed bit of garbage produced within 10 minutes, which doesn’t look at anything in depth to come up with a ladder position of 18th. Their Trade and Draft Period of 2016 was widely lauded within the AFL industry as the best at the Club since their inception. Granted they lost O’Meara and Prestia, however neither has contributed greatly (and in O’Meara’s case at all) in the last two years at the Club. Where to start with the inaccuracies of the article: 1. David Swallow along with a host of other players including Touk Miller, Peter Wright, Tom Lynch to name a few have already signed on to contract extensions. It is currently only Steven May to sign and he has indicated it is virtually a done deal. 2. If you watched any of the JLT Series then you would know that Barlow and Hanley have been in great form, Witts is going assume the key ruck role come Round 1 and three of their five new draft kids in Ainsworth, Brodie and Bowes have all shown plenty in the JLT and training track since the Draft. 3. You may need to read up on the season that Lyons had in 2016 for Adelaide which was very impressive and they got him for nothing to add further midfield depth. 4. Michael Rischitelli is currently recovering from an ACL sustained last year and won’t need his game time “managed” at the start of the season because he won’t be fit until during the season at some stage to be determined. Season 2017 has the Suns placed better than any of the past 3 years to actually perform due to the minimal amount of injuries that they are currently dealing with compared with other seasons. They should easily account for the Lions in Round 1 at Metricon Stadium and there is little to no chance that they finish lower than Brisbane or Carlton this season and should find themselves battling with a host of Clubs including Essendon, Fremantle, Collingwood, Port Adelaide, Richmond that will arguably finish somewhere between 9-16 (finals this year is probably just beyond them).
Keagan Ryan
Roar Guru
Yeah I agree. I read your optimistic Brisbane prediction and wondered who you had below them - I think the Suns are guaranteed to be better than the Lions. When comparing this year and last, the only real loss will be Prestia - Malceski (form and injury) and O'Meara weren't factors. You also consider they've added Barlow, Hanley, Lyons, Witts, and four top 10 picks, it's hard to see them not getting better. That's on top of returning players like Swallow and Ablett. While I don't think they'll play finals I could definitely see them in the top half of the bottom 10
steve
Guest
18th? Gee that's massively harsh. Both Hanley and Barlow have been excellent pick ups based on the JLT series and the GCS are the better for having brought them to the club. Lyons has also been a good pick up. Not to mention the drafted really well and Id expect to see their draft crop getting regular games. They have a fit again Ablett and Swallow. The Suns will be finishing closer to 8th than 18th. This seems to have been written with a most negative slant and bias.
me too
Roar Rookie
Ouch! Think 18th is a bit harsh. They have some quality there, but haven't been able to keep their top end and replacing others near as well as GWS. In reality they needed the same concessions that the Giants were given. Too late now. I see them as capable on their day of matching any bottom ten team. Should finish above a few.
Cat
Roar Guru
Gotta disagree on your conclusion. The list is definitely better now than last year. I think the Suns are primed to improve. Not all the way to finals but somewhere around 12th. Having contributed absolutely nothing for two years O'Meara is a loss in name only. Prestia is virtually the same, managing only a handful of games. They may be losses in that they could have helped the Suns improve this year, if they get on and stay on the paddock but as far as subtracting them from what the Suns produced last year, its virtually no change at all. Problem with the Suns is how many 'ifs' there are. If Ablett stays fit ... If Swallow stays fit ... If Eade doesn't foul it up ... If a half dozen quality draft picks can have any meaningful impact this year .... If ...