Stuart Dew said the Saturday before the game between Gold Coast and Adelaide: “Our time is now… We’re here to win and get four points like every other team.”
I thought that was absolute bollocks.
But it turns out he was absolutely right.
Yes, they’ve faced some easy teams these first few weeks (Adelaide) and they got thumped by the Power in the opening round, but they’ve been impressive and have shown so much improvement, even beating the Eagles in Round 2.
Here’s why they’re a finals contender.
New recruits
During the off-season, they were a team that had a few eyes on them. And some were impressed by their signings and draftees. They picked up players such as Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson via the first two picks, plus Hugh Greenwood, Zac Smith and who could forget about Brandon Ellis.
With Rowell and Anderson, you get two unbelievably talented midfielders coming from the Oakleigh Chargers, who’ve already helped improve an alright midfield, Rowell especially. Greenwood also helps out their midfield, Smith gives depth in both their ruck stocks and up forward, while Ellis helps out their wing stocks.
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
And they’ve already helped out, with Gold Coast second in disposals and contested possessions, first in kicks and rebound 50s, equal fifth in marks, and sixth in tackles and clearances. Yes, it’s obviously a team effort, but their new recruits have been the main ones to really help out.
Young players that are continuing to improve
Yes, there’s Rowell and Anderson of course, but there are other young players who’ve improved a lot recently, including this season. These includes Ben King, Jack Lukosius, Ben Ainsworth, Jack Bowes, Wil Powell, Darcy MacPherson and Brayden Fiorini.
How have they helped? Well, King has kicked five goals this season, along with an average of ten disposals and five marks per game. Lukosius is averaging around 14 disposals and five marks per game.
Ainsworth and MacPherson have also kicked seven between them in the opening three while Bowes, Powell and Fiorini combined for an average of 18.3 disposals between them. This has again helped improve what was a pretty shocking team last season.
Mixture of both young and old
And finally, part of the key to having a ‘now’ team is having both experienced campaigners along with the odd young star and a few mid-career player. They have a few mid-career players, they have a few young stars and there’s some good role-playing veterans.
Players such as Jarrod Witts, Jarrod Harbrow, Pearce Hanley, David Swallow and Zac Smith help bring leadership and usually excel in their positions, while mid-career players such as Touk Miller, Lachie Weller, Alex Sexton, Hugh Greenwood and Brandon Ellis help them gain that balance the Suns need to push for finals as well. And of course, don’t forget about those young guns, who still have a lot of room to grow.
The Suns have a pretty good mixture for a ‘now’ team, including recruiting well, having uber-talented young players, solid mid-career players and some good role-playing veterans.
The question is, though, can they continue to surprise and make a play for that finals spot that’s eluded them for the last nine years?
Tim O'Hare
Roar Rookie
Agreed. I wanted Connor Rozee in 2018 and I reckon Brisbane would have taken him if they hadnt traded their first round pick for Lachie Neale (which is completely justifiable as a player of Neale's calibre only comes to your club once in a generation). I also like Xavier Duursma (a Brisbane supporter) and Zak Butters. I would have also liked to have gotten Jarrod Cameron that year. Glad we got Devon Robertson the following year
Scott
Guest
I reckon if they had somehow kept Jack Martin he would be tearing it up right now. Was shattered west coast didn’t go hard for him and Carlton have got an absolute steal. Most talented player that has never had a chance to show it. Had Martin gone to a top team he would be tearing it up even more then he is now. That’s gonna be the thing with Gold Coast, they are prob 1 mature gun player off doing a Brisbane. I reckon you are sitting pretty at Brisbane, from following the draft, you guys keep getting the players I want. Mcluggage was the number 1 pick every day of the week, I can’t believe you guys nabbed him at 3. Cam Rayner was one of the better number 1 picks. The Berry brothers you got cheap, Devon Robertson I would have rated top 5, Zac Bailey was guaranteed to be good and I loved the look of starcevich in his draft year (was convinced he would be coming to West Coast). The other team who keeps getting the players i wanted are Port. It may already be reflecting this season, this Mitch Georgiades I thought could go unnoticed and fall to the Eagles pick, plays like Fyfe, keep an eye out for him.
Tim O'Hare
Roar Rookie
Take it a week at a time. Gold Coast are a young side, they will make mistakes. As a Brisbane fan, I see rebuilds as two steps forward, one step back. Expect the Suns to cause some upsets, then be caught out by wiser sides and have to rethink their game style, then possibly win again. Bare in mind that there young talent hasn't fully settled in yet. Ben King has yet to play a season, Izaak Rankine is yet to debut, and Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson have played three games. Gold Coast will at separate times impress and disappoint. It is easy to see parallels with Brisbane, but I think Lachie Neale coming to Brisbane was a major part of their rise. Rowell may one day be as good as Neale but, right now, he is only a novice. Difference with Brisbane is that Neale was already a veteran in the prime of his career and he walked in and made an impact. Brisbane already had Zorko who is a great leader and was their best player. Zorko was getting tagged each week but, when Neale came in, that freed up Zorko. I dont think the recruits Greenwood and Ellis are as good as Neale and I dont think Gold Coast have a player with the level of experience and x-factor as Dayne Zorko so I think it will be a few years off. Just about every Premiership team has at least one club legend who is finally experiencing success in the twilight of their career. Gold Coast is too new a team to have that player.
Scott
Guest
There is another huge reason they could play finals which isn’t mentioned..... IZAK RANKINE! The kid is the best underage player I’ve ever seen, from following the draft closely for about 18 years. He will debut this week and a good way to describe him, would be if Cyril Rioli and Peter Matera had a kid. Gold Coast also got the 2nd best underage player I’ve seen in Jack Lukosius. Add in that Rowell and Anderson were so far ahead of the 3rd best kid last year, with King as well, they have taken 5 players in the last 2 years that would’ve gone number 1 in most drafts. They are bound to at least improve a fair bit over the next few years.
Simoc
Guest
Yes we've seen it all before unfortunately including these articles. And I for one think that it's a flash in the pan. Sure hope they prove me wrong, but they look like a bunch of schoolkids having a go against poor opposition. If they turn up against Collingwood, Richmond, Hawthorn , Geelong we can be sure they are the real deal.
Cracka
Roar Rookie
lol point taken, what I mean, sides like Collingwood, Hawthorn, Richmond will punish the mistakes that Gold Coast are making and turn those mistakes into goals.
Samuel Laffy
Roar Guru
In 2018, the Gold Coast were 3-2. They finished 4-18. In 2019, the Gold Coast were 3-1. They finished 3-19. They've looked more impressive than they have in those seasons in the first two games back, but I'll wait until they're in the Top Eight in Round 11 or 12 before even beginning to speculate that they're a finals contender.
DingoGray
Roar Guru
Way to early to be calling Finals Contender. Let's be honest- they've are benefiting from the fixture at the moment, Eagle (heads aren't in it) & Crows (are god awful- give them the spoon now).... Let's re-visit after round 7 and a couple of visits away from the Gold Coast.
Nico
Roar Rookie
We’ll be able to judge better when they play Brisbane, Cats in Geelong, and Richmond/Collingwood in Victoria. They certainly look very good and play very well. I hope they make top four. Healthy for the competition. Then after that they’ll become the hunted. Let’s hope they don’t become next GWS - win win win , full of super stars, and nothing to show for it (yet). Also, Matt Rowell has a Jordan-Last-Dance vibe about him, in that from even before the draft, he was excited about going to Gold Coast and turning things around. He will draw crowds and memberships, so good luck to him.
Dexter The Hamster
Roar Rookie
I'm not sure if they are finals bound just yet or not, but they are certainly the most entertaining team to watch in the AFL at this point in time. They make the odd mistake, but the ball movement is great to watch, and their pressure without the ball is outstanding.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I think a lot of this proves is how remote a coach can be to the process. ---- Dew: new blood and youth makes this first-time around coach look like he can coach. And l think he can! ---- Hinkley: has struggled to get his hot n cold middling list to fire. Inject some exciting, feisty youth. And guess what? He can coach! ---- Nicks: is a reflection of Adelaide's management. I think he answers what they want. I just think the whole culture is wrong. And poor Nick's is made to work with the results of what is very poor recruitment and the worst retention in the AFL era. ---- Simpson: a disruptive routine has caused him issues but this doesn't make him a bad coach...or does it?
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
I do think they’re a Smokey, the next couple matches are gonna be interesting for the suns and they do have a style that translates well to finals, I’m just not sure they can keep it up for a season.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
A cold, dry day in Melbourne. What date is that being held on?
Cracka
Roar Rookie
Watching the game against Adelaide, yes Crows weren't great, but the Gold Coast side made a lot of mistakes and the conditions up north are a little different, the ball is harder to pick up as its a little more slippery than normal, so it will be interesting to see the Gold Coast play say Collingwood down in Melbourne on a cold dry day.
Gyfox
Roar Rookie
Another "line in the sand" game this weekend - & on a Saturday night all over the national stage.