With the Gold Coast SUNS NEAFL team deadlocked on 10 victories alongside Redland and Morningside, the fight for a spot in the Northern Conference finals has never been tougher. 

Incredibly, finals aren’t at the forefront of Shaun Harts thinking, the NEAFL coach more concerned with providing the Club’s senior-listed players extra opportunity to push forward for a senior recall and the younger team members more time to develop and adapt to the requirements of elite sport.

Broadbeach will provide stern opposition for the GC SUNS NEAFL team who have seen a number of players elevated to the top grade this week.   

NEAFL assistant coach Andrew Johnston told goldcoastfc.com.au retaining a top five finish would only be possible on the back of strong leadership and discipline from the club’s senior-listed players. 

“It will be up to our experienced players to lead from the front to ensure we stick to our structures and play the style of football we want to play,” Johnston said.

“If it means we end up winning the game and making finals than that’s good for our players on the cusp of selection, because there’s still two AFL games to go and playing finals will give our senior boys another game to try and push up for first team call-up.”

Led by Mitchell Brewer’s seven-goal haul, Broadbeach came mighty close to knocking off Redland’s last weekend, falling short by 20-points at Casheez Park.

Johnston said the boys would be in for a great contest against the Cats on Saturday afternoon.

“Redlands have been going well, so to play against them on their home turf and kick 18 goals is a really good effort,” Johnston said.

“They’re going to be fairly hard to beat.”

The Gold Coast SUNS will be taking on Broadbeach in their Round 22 clash at Broadbeach’s home fields this Saturday, with the first bounce scheduled at 1:30pm.