Opinion
The Gold Coast Suns have cleared house during the 2020 post-season, but the competition’s largest list is uniquely situated to attack the draft in a remarkable way that could set the club up a year earlier than the AFL Commission thought in 2019.
With the top 25 players well established, injuries at an all-time minimum and the club’s extended rookie list protected despite the expected AFL-wide list size reductions, the Suns’ draft strategy is now clear and is not what many have been thinking.
So far in the offseason a total of ten players have been culled from the 51 contracted players on the extended list, with a category B rookie recently added and a senior-listed player about to be traded, namely Hewago ‘Ace’ Oea and Peter Wright.
Veterans Anthony Miles and George Horlin-Smith will both depart Carrara having decided to hang up the boots after injury-marred seasons, joining Pearce Hanley in retirement.
Suns Academy graduates Jesse Joyce, Jacob Dawson and Jacob Heron will make way for a new generation, having been squeezed out by the club’s list requirements, the former because of senior list cuts and the latter pair because their three years on the rookie list has expired.
Corey Ellis and Josh Schoenfeld will return to second-tier football, neither having played senior footy since 2019, as will Sam Fletcher and Mitch Riordan, who came to the Suns via the preseason and midseason drafts yet never debuted in the AFL.
Meanwhile, Jarrod Harbrow will return for another season, albeit on the rookie list, where he is tipped to be taking on a playing assistant coach role as the club goes into 2021 with a young list and scaled back coaching team.
For those counting at home, the Suns currently have 35 senior players – Harbrow soon to be removed – four category A rookies and three category B rookies.
(Photo by Chris Hyde/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)
Nick Holman has spent three years toiling away on the Suns rookie list, playing 46 of a possible 61 AFL games, and is seldom dropped on form. It appears he will be rewarded for his hard work and leadership by being promoted to the senior list. If he’s not, it will be a shock.
So with the Suns senior list dropping to 33 players once Peter Wright is traded, it appears that they will not be promoting just Nick Holman but seem to also be upgrading one of the 2019 pre-listed players to the senior list, most likely NAB Rising Star nominee and Hunter Harrison medallist Connor Budarick.
What this means is that they may be picking only one player in the draft if lists are cut to 38, which is why Craig Cameron has stated publicly that his team is looking to move up the order from Pick 5.
With all things being equal, if rookie lists are left alone, the Suns will have seven spots vacant after their list clear-out. Even if rookie spots are cut, it will be ‘pro-rata’, meaning that the Suns will keep their extra seven category A spots granted as concessions unless all clubs lose one or two spots.
What the Suns do with all those places is anyone’s guess. There are cohorts of academy kids for the Gold Coast and Darwin who have actually been able to play some football in 2020 and have been impressive. There may be some diamonds in the rookie draft and potentially more than just Jarrod Harbrow getting re-rookied.
One thing is certain: the club has resisted temptation in the trade period to go after over-priced veteran talent, staying young in order to develop the list together as a young group. The next group of youngsters will be just a year younger than Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson, two years younger than Jack Lukosius and Izak Rankine, joining a squad where age has no bearing on selection and talent wins out.
Watch for confirmation if and when the Suns get their pair of second-round picks either bundled with No. 5 to move up or else shifted into late points in next year’s draft in case the AFL Commission decide the Suns rebuild has been done a year early and the club has to match bids on its cracking academy class of 2021.
Who’s in your ultimate team? Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. For the best odds on the game try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit.
We’re taking a look at one player from each team that needs to make a difference this week, starting with the ANZAC Day games.
Damien Hardwick has predicted Toby Greene's one-match suspension will be upheld by the AFL tribunal, but the triple-premiership coach says he wouldn't ban the…
Round 5 of the AFL provided plenty of action, from big scorelines to upset wins and pressure starting to build on some clubs and coaches already.
Geelong has been crafty and creative in its list management and has quietly assembled a very exciting young group of midfielders and half-forwards.
Brisbane co-captain Lachie Neale will be looking to lead his team to a victory against Melbourne in what will be his 250th AFL game.
It’s high stakes with five teams having lost their first three games of season 2024, and in desperate need of a win.
