When FOX Footy published their 2019 season predictions on March 21 this year, 15 analysts predicted the premiers, Coleman Medalist, Brownlow winner, wooden spooners and other key predictions for the season ahead.
All 15 analysts picked the Gold Coast Suns to “win” the wooden spoon. Some analysts found it hard to see games the team could win. But through eight games, the Suns are 3-5 and in 14th, a record on par with preseason finals contenders Essendon and Melbourne with a few particular players helping the team emerge as one that can be competitive when it wants to be.
They would be 3-4-1 if not for a freak behind scored by Tom McDonald against the Demons on Saturday afternoon, and are punching well above their weight so far, even if they are still leaning towards a bottom four finish.
A few bright stars have emerged on the Suns team this year, and while their statistics could be bloated by playing on a list deprived of talent, they have still proven themselves to be quality players in 2019.
One of the best on the Suns this year is Brayden Fiorini, who has averaged a team high 27.6 disposals and a solid 5.3 tackles this year (third on the team) in his fourth year as a former late first round pick from the Northern Knights. He is playing like the team’s best player and leading the Suns in disposals despite missing the one point loss to Melbourne on the weekend.
Suns sing the team song (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Having played just 44 games from 2015-2018, it seemed like most of the football world had forgotten about 2010 first overall pick David Swallow, the team’s first ever national draft pick.
However those at the Suns still knew he was valuable (the five year extension he signed last November helps with that), and having been named their co-captain for this year, he has been a shining light with 23.6 disposals a game, showing flashes of the skillset that made him such a talented junior prospect coming out of the WAFL.
A former late round pick (#88 in 2011), Alex Sexton was just a filler player in the forward line leading up to a 2018 campaign where he lead the Suns in goals, with an iffy 28 goals (they couldn’t get much going forward.
But with Peter Wright stepping up and Jack Lukosius coming into the forward line, Sexton has already hit 16 goals through eight games (on pace to hit 44 for the season) and is their main option forward.
Their midfield has got better. Though Lachie Weller has underwhelmed considering he was traded for the #2 pick in 2017, he has been a solid contributor, as has homegrown talent in Touk Miller and Jack Bowes, who scored the infamous game winning goal against Carlton in Round 4 to give the Suns a huge win.
Will Brodie has been solid when he has played, and #3 pick from 2018 Izak Rankine hasn’t even debuted yet. He could be the best of the bunch among their young prospects with his explosiveness and pace, and when he comes in their once dire midfield will look noticeably better on paper.
Down back the team still has a lot of work to do, but #6 pick from 2019 Ben King is an incredibly talented prospect, while Sam Collins has a match-saving mark against his former team (Fremantle) so far this season, having been a pretty good contributor in his first year up north.
Of course for the expansion Suns, the same issues remain. Guys want to go home to Victoria or other states, and the team usually trades them out for pennies on the dollar (Jack Scrimshaw from Hawthorn is the most recent example of this) and the hope is that these issues will fade away.
But the team has made an emphasis on acquiring high quality guys who want to be on the Gold Coast (drafting two SA guys with top three picks to stay together helps too), but the Suns need to get better too.
The main point is that the Suns, in 8+ years of AFL football, haven’t made a single finals series yet, and they shouldn’t be expected to anytime soon.
But the organisation is taking massive steps to improve, and even if bad, this team has enough young talent to at least be fun for a little while.
Seymorebutts
Roar Rookie
I think both the Suns and the Saints have been good. last time the Eagles played the Saints in Melbourne they lost by 8 points in 2017, so I for one think the weekends result was fantastic for the reigning premiers. Ditto their gritty win over the Suns the previous week... both those clubs I think will win close to 8-10 games, they are no walk in the park.. they are going to claim a big scalp before the year is out.
Raj
Roar Rookie
The Suns have been a surprise this year. Even in losing games they fight it out and give themselves opportunities.
Someone
Roar Rookie
are you sarcastic?
wayne
Guest
the goldcoast suns r better then west coast and to r freo and melboune
George13
Guest
Have to disagree on 'underwhelmed' Weller. He missed 4 games this year with hamstring and Suns missed him badly. He plays really well this year. I was very unhappy when Suns gave up pick 2 for him but now I am glad they did. He performs every game and is still getting better. Compare him e.g. to Brayshaw or Davies-Uniacke who have a long way to go. Also Suns got pick 43 as apart of the deal and drafted Ballard with it who is another great story and may end up the best player of all I mentioned. I suggest to watch Powell, pick 19. Still skinny but he's exciting. Besides Collins, Corbett is another mature age steal. Ainsworth, Macpherson and Holman also started to deliver this year.
Duckworth-Lewis
Guest
Totally. They could be known as the Gold Coast Green Shoots.
Jermayn Parker
Guest
The best thing is that they have only been badly beaten once in Adelaide. We are only 8 weeks in and if they are still like this in 10-12 weeks, it will be a success. Stuart Dew is a great coach. I also think you have missed Jack Martin in your analysis who has had likely his best season yet. Brayden Fiorini was tagged by WCE Hutchings which is a sign of respect as he did not tag anyone against St Kilda and is one of the premier taggers of the competition.
Seano
Roar Rookie
I have lived up here for 12 years now and go watch the suns most weeks and they do look a lot better than before, the Carlton game was actually exciting and the game on the weekend you could see the anger on the fans faces. The SA recruits was a great idea, they need to stay away from Melbourne private school kids as they always go home. Scrimshaw and probably King. Get westies (like me) or SA wa kids and they stay. Hard to get home sick when your mates are digger holes or working nightfill in the cold, east to get homesick when your mates are at the Portsea polo or at the snow. Dew and the ceo are doing a great job, the admin team actually listen, we GA members complained about 201 being empty (as it’s really sunny) but we got sat with the drunks, next year 201 open just for GA suns members which includes all GC junior players, it’s great if a little hot at times! They don’t Harris you when you enter the ground anymore about food ect, it’s become a good day out!
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
WOuld be a top 4 fancy for 2020 if they did.
Duckworth-Lewis
Guest
If Carlton can only manage the one win this season, they should merge with the Gold Coast. Stewart Dew is proving to be the better coach than Brendan Bolton.
Duckworth-Lewis
Guest
They have a brighter future than Carlton.