It’s shaping up as a cracking game against the undefeated Blues on Sunday at Metricon Stadium.
The SUNS are looking to bounce back after their performance against the GWS Giants last week, while the Blues are looking to go four wins from their first four outings for the first time since 1995.
Let’s hope it’s a SUNS victory in front of our home fans, with these three keys things to watch out for come Sunday at 4.10pm
The Levi Casboult Cup
Pick 3 in the 2021 NAB AFL Rookie Draft already looks an absolute steal as Levi Casboult has started the season in brilliant form after spending 12 seasons and 153 games at the Blues. He comes up against his old side for the first time this Sunday, with a likely match-up against ex-teammate in Jacob Weitering his potential opponent.
The absence of key forward Ben King this year due to injury meant Casboult has had to stand up and he has done so and more three games in, kicking seven goals and crashing countless packs for his teammates to feast on the crumbs. He will be hoping to play well again on Sunday and to unleash the ‘double cobra’ celebration in front of his new fans, and a few old ones, on the Gold Coast.
Touk Miller to lead from the front
The reigning Club Champion and All-Australian star Touk Miller had a relatively quiet game by his lofty standards last Saturday against the Giants when he was kept to 17 possessions. It took a double tag to slow him down, with Giants Lachlan Ash and Matt de Boer tag teaming the running machine all day.
It was the first time Miller had dropped below 29 touches in the past 19 matches, an incredible run of form for the co-captain. Carlton and Coach Michael Voss may look to try and tag Miller again, but back on his home deck and with more support from his teammates, we will expect to see our fearless leader running his opponent into the ground and leading his team from the front.
Rankine back and causing chaos
Izak Rankine started the season on fire in Round 1 with four electrifying goals against West Coast in our win over in the West. He sustained a serious corked quad injury which kept him out of the next two games against the Demons and Giants, with his forward craft and intense forward pressure missed on both occasions.
He will be looking to stamp himself early on this game, either with one of his high flying marks or crumbing off a Casboult or Mabior Chol pack. His manic pressure will light up Metricon Stadium come Sunday afternoon and the SUNS fans will be welcoming him back with open arms.
