Round one of the AFL season may have started last weekend, but for the NEAFL team, the final practice match of the pre-season was played against the Brisbane Lions.
In Coorparoo on Saturday morning, the Gold Coast SUNS booted five goals to two in the final quarter to run over the top of the Lions 14.12 (96) to 11.12 (78).
A deluge of rain overnight ensured that the game was played in wet and slippery conditions, that were made harder by the heat and humidity, making skill execution even more difficult.
After missing the final NAB Challenge hit out due to a foot injury, running defender Sean Lemmens was the SUNS' best player, playing off a half-back flank and generating plenty of run.
Aaron Hall and Brandon Matera were both energetic in the forward half of centre, with the pair both creating a plethora of scoring opportunities through their harassment of the opposition.
Ruckman Tom Nicholls narrowly missed out on senior selection against the Demons, but the athletic tall looked lively around the ground in his strongest performance since returning from a posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
On the eve of the NEAFL campaign, reserves coach Josh Fraser revealed the expectation of the sides fortunes in 2015 had lifted on the back of an impressive pre-season, as well as increase in mature-aged depth via the rookie draft.
“The expectations have lifted off the back of our pre-season form which has been pretty encouraging,” Fraser told goldcoastfc.com.au on Wednesday.
“I guess adding [Andrew] Raines, [Keegan] Brooksby, [Tyrone] Downie, [Josh] Glenn, those type of mature, state league bodies has been a massive plus for us.
“The improvement of [Henry] Schade, [Jack] Leslie, [Josh] Hall, hopefully [Jarred] Ellis and [Louis] Herbert they keep growing and getting better.
“The list is in a healthy state which allows us to play a pretty competitive side and so far we’ve produced on game day.”
In his second game for the club, prized draftee Peter Wright showed some promising signs, booting three goals in an eye-catching performance. Last year’s pick No. 8 endured an injury interrupted pre-season due to a lingering knee injury, but will now be given adequate time to develop in the NEAFL.
“He really got going in the second half, he covered the ground a lot better, put himself in position to compete in the air and clunked a couple of nice, big contested marks and kicked a few goals,” Fraser said.
“I fell like he’s turned the corner and hopefully he can keep building on that form.”
Brisbane 1.3 5.7 9.12 11.12 (78)
Gold Coast 4.4 5.5 9.7 14.12 (96)
Goals: Wright 3, Matera 2, Boston 2, Downie 2, Bowes, Glenn, Budarick, Nicholls, Brooksby
Best: Lemmens, A. Hall, Nicholls, Matera, Wright
