The final quarter lapse

Holding a 27-point lead at the final change, the SUNS were outgunned by the competition benchmark in the final quarter as the Western Bulldogs piled on the goals. The Dogs booted nine majors in the final term (including two supergoals) to storm home to a 21-point win.

Coach Rodney Eade conceded in his post-match press conference that fatigue was a major factor, with the SUNS kicking efficiency dropping from 74% in the first three quarters to a disappointing 54% in the last.

Despite the poor finish, the positives still far outweighed the negatives for Eade with round one just two weeks away.


A hot start for the SUNS

After struggling to convert their inside 50 opportunities in JLT2 against Essendon, the Gold Coast SUNS made sure there was no repeat in the opening half against the AFL reigning premiers, the Western Bulldogs.

Led by Tom Lynch (two goals, one goal assist) and Gary Ablett (two goals), Rodney Eade’s men booted six goals straight to take a 27-point lead into the quarter-time break.

The hot streak continued into the second term, with the SUNS booting the first four goals to extend their lead to 49 points before two late goals to the Bulldogs (including a supergoal) trimmed the margin to 35 points at the main break.

25 inside 50s resulted in 11 goals with the Queensland side using the footy at 77 per cent efficiency in the opening half.

Lynch was unstoppable with five first half goals and there are exciting signs if Gold Coast can take that form into the season proper. However the side’s lacklustre final term shows there is still plenty of work to do if the SUNS are to play consistent, four-quarter footy against the best sides in the competition.


The Little Master is back

Gary Ablett made his long-awaited return against the Western Bulldogs and it took him just two minutes to leave a mark on the game.

Starting in a five-man forward line alongside Peter Wright, Tom Lynch, Jack Martin and Callum Ah Chee, the dual Brownlow medallist made a nice lead to take a chest mark from a Touk Miller pinpoint pass. He showed absolutely zero signs of rust, slotting the first goal of the evening from just inside the forward 50 arc.

Twenty minutes later, the Little Master popped up again, with a perfect ruck tap from Jarrod Witts allowing Ablett to demonstrate he has lost none of his nous around goal, snapping truly to register his second for the quarter. Perhaps Garry Lyon’s prediction that Ablett could boot over 60 goals in a season if he were played primarily in attack wasn’t too far off the mark after all?

A move to the midfield in the second term saw Gaz accumulate more of the Sherrin and there were moments you saw the Gary of old. A trademark evasive sidestep around young star Marcus Bontempelli got the crowd (and footy world) excited early in the quarter and it was great to see him shrug off a tackle with ease later in the term as you’ve come to expect from a player of his calibre.

Ablett finished the game with 22 disposals and will be much better for the run.


Witts must start round one

If Jarrod Witts wasn’t a certainty for round one, he surely is now. The former Magpie dominated early against Tom Boyd, with 12 first-quarter hitouts to Boyd’s three. Fiveof those were to advantage, with none better than the one he placed down Gary Ablett’s throat for The Little Master’s second goal.


Not only was the New South Welshman a major factor in the ruck, his work around the ground was also solid as he finished with 31 hitouts, 10 contested possessions and floated back in defence to influence the contest on more than a couple of occasions.

Witts would be extremely disappointed with his spilled mark in the final quarter that led to a Liam Picken goal, but can be excused given it was his first game in a month.


What is Tom Lynch capable of in 2017?

Tom Lynch announced himself as a genuine superstar of the competition in 2016, kicking 66 goals to earn a maiden All Australian jacket and his second consecutive SUNS Club Champion trophy. He led the AFL in contested marks and finished equal third in the Coleman Medal race despite his team winning just six games for the year.

Another big pre-season for Lynch sees him ready to cement his standing amongst the game’s elite in 2017 and the Sorrento product was at his devastating best in the opening half against the Bulldogs with five first half goals.

Lynch booted two goals in the opening stanza but also showed his unselfishness, finding Michael Barlow with a beautiful centring kick to set up another. The key forward added three more majors to his tally in the second term, showcasing his ability to take big strong grabs and lead by example.

He tried his best to carry his side over the line with a clutch contested mark and goal in the final quarter to reinstate the SUNS’ lead after it has been lost for the first time that night, but unfortunately the Bulldogs were simply too good.

If the SUNS can provide Lynch with adequate supply out of the midfield and he overcomes the close-checking tactics of his opponents and the frustration that brings, the sky is the limit for the Gold Coast captain. Most punters are predicting another All Australian berth for Lynch, but you wouldn’t put cracking the fabled ton past him if everything goes to plan for the Gold Coast spearhead.