Well, a week is a long time in football...
The week of turmoil that has engulfed the Gold Coast SUNS is nearly over with Saturday’s round six clash with Adelaide just one sleep away. The great thing about this game is no matter what has occured in the previous seven days, a new opponent awaits. And a new chapter can be written. Rodney Eade and the match committee have made seven changes to the side that defeated Brisbane by 64-points last weekend, with four forced changes due to Steven May’s suspension for his hit on Tom Rockliff, and the three club imposed sanctions handed out to Harley Bennell, Trent McKenzie and Brandon Matera. Injuries have continued to penetrate Metricon Stadium as well, with the toll mounting by the week. Only 24 players could be considered for selection this week – highlighting the epidemic in Carrara.
Lynch & Dixon to combat All Australian Talia & debutant Lever
After combining for nine goals last week in a lethal display, Charlie Dixon and Tom Lynch will have an opportunity to continue to build their strong form against the Crows. Daniel Talia and debutant Jake Lever will hold down the key posts for the visitors. Last year’s All Australian full back, Talia, has been supported by Kyle Cheney and Kyle Hartigan at different times during the opening five weeks of the season. But that pair has been comprehensively beaten in the last two weeks, with Western Bulldog Jake Stringer kicking six on Hartigan in round four and Port Adelaide’s Jay Schulz booting five on Cheney in last weekend’s Showdown. Hence the injection of last year’s pick No. 14. Whoever Talia doesn’t go to on Saturday night will be licking their lips, given opposition teams recent ability of exploiting the Crows second key defender. With Dixon coming off a six goal, Marcus Ashcroft medal winning performance, all eyes will be on the spearhead to see if he can back up last weekend’s best on ground effort.
Saad, Miller continue to shine brightly, despite grim start to season
One thing that has been overshadowed during a tumultuous week at Metricon Stadium is the rising star nomination received by Adam Saad. The rookie revelation earned the recognition on the back of a stellar 26-possession effort against Brisbane in last weekend’s QClash. Saad has been on a constant, gradual upward trajectory since debuting for the SUNS in round one, and with no Nick Malceski or Trent McKenzie patrolling across half-back this weekend, his importance has never been greater for Gold Coast. The 20-year-old may only have five games of senior football to his name, but he plays with a flair and confidence that belies his inexperience. Touk Miller is another first-year player who has been a beacon of hope during a dispirited start to the season in southern Queensland. With injuries piling up in recent weeks, the teenager has increased his midfield time and at the same time enlarged his output. His strength in the contest is rare for a player of his age, much like Port Adelaide’s Ollie Wines, Miller has a ready-made body to compete at this level. Whilst he might not have the sheer size of Wines, his ability to keep his feet at all times has stood out during his infancy.
Undermanned back six to be tested by Walker & Betts
With Steven May unavailable due to suspension, Rory Thompson will have the difficult task of suppressing the impact of Adelaide power forward Taylor Walker. The last time the Crows captain faced the SUNS, he proved to be the difference on the back of a commanding five-goal performance at Adelaide Oval. After debuting last weekend, Henry Schade will no doubt spend some time on the Crows focal point, who despite being well held in recent weeks is capable of tearing a game apart. Walker put on a clinic against North Melbourne in round one, and kicked 11 goals in the first three weeks to set himself up for a season of prosperity. Since then, he has kicked just three in two weeks whilst Eddie Betts has got off the leash. The problem Phil Walsh and Adelaide have had in recent weeks has been Betts’ direct opponent rolling off him to create a two-on-one in aerial contests against Walker. Something Eade and the coaching staff at the SUNS would have looked closely at in the lead up to Saturday night’s encounter. Thompson will have his work cut out for him against Walker, particularly without the experience of Malceski or May around him to help set up structurally. Fortunately for Gold Coast, Josh Jenkins won’t make the trip north due to a hip injury, but Tom Lynch will be lingering somewhere inside 50.
Raines inclusion brings much needed experience
Experience is a value commodity in this game, particularly for a club with an incredibly young list in terms of both age and games played. With Gary Ablett and Malceski still unavailable, Gold Coast has been somewhat bolstered in this area with the inclusion of Andrew Raines for his first game in SUNS colours. The former Richmond and Brisbane midfielder was elevated off the rookie list this week and will be the third most experienced player on Saturday night. With 123 games at AFL level, Raines is behind only Michael Rischitelli (183) and Jarrod Harbrow (151). To highlight the absence of experience this weekend, Dion Prestia has played the next most games with 78. It’s an issue that has caused widespread scrutiny during the SUNS' underwhelming start to the season that has produced only one win from five starts.
Injury plague extends players used list out to a whopping 35
If Gold Coast is going to defy football logic this weekend and claim the points, they will need to arrest a six-game losing streak against the Crows. In fact, the SUNS will need to defeat Adelaide for the first time in the club’s history. Whilst the sky has been bluer during other times in the SUNS short tenure, the injury plague at Metricon Stadium cannot be overlooked. When the siren sounds on Saturday night, the total amount of players used by Eade this season will be up to a staggering 35. To put this into context, the undefeated Fremantle have used only 25 players thus far. The consistency in performance a reflection of stability and continuity. Characteristics one could not associate with the Gold Coast SUNS in 2015.
