Opinion
The Gold Coast Suns head to Melbourne this weekend for their first game of the 2023 AFL season at the MCG.
Sitting 11th on the ladder with six wins and six losses to their name, the Suns take on the struggling Blues in a must-win match for Gold Coast if they want to play finals for the first time in club history.
Having started the season with one win from five matches (1-4), the Suns have won five of their past seven matches to stay alive in 2023 (now 6-6).
Trailing by 20 points and 35 points in their matches against the Western Bulldogs and Adelaide respectively, Gold Coast’s comebacks in Darwin have kept them in the hunt for September action.
However the real test for Stuart Dew’s men begins now as they look to find form after their mid-season bye.
Since 2013, the Suns have only had two wins in the fixture immediately following the bye.
Before last year’s triumph over the Crows at home, Gold Coast had lost this match of the season eight times in a row.
With Hawthorn to come in Round 15, the Suns have a real opportunity to win four consecutive matches, improve their win-loss record to 8-6 and be sitting in the top eight before they play Collingwood at home in Round 16.
Dew’s troops have defeated Carlton in their last two outings, but neither of these matches were played at the MCG.
The Blues under Michael Voss come into this fixture desperate for a victory having lost their last six matches.
Three of these defeats have been at the ‘G against Collingwood, Melbourne and Essendon as Voss’ men continue to struggle to kick majors, having not scored more than 75 points since April.
In many respects, Carlton are on the canvas.
The time is now for the Gold Coast to perform if they want to make some history.
Getting the four points against on a bruised, battered and severely underperforming Carlton is not a want, it’s a necessity.
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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.
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