Chances aplenty in the middle part of the game... but not taken

The gulf between the first and second quarters on Saturday night was vast. The Swans booted six goals to zero in the opening stanza and could have kicked a couple more had Sam Reid taken his opportunities. The second term was a completely different story, with Gold Coast clicking into gear and putting some goals on the board. Charlie Dixon and Tom Lynch got dangerous in attack, as did Jarrod Garlett who collected a career-high 15 disposals – 12 of which came in the opening half as he displayed his silky skills at different times on the slippery deck. The third quarter was almost comical with the SUNS dominating at different stages without capitalising on the scoreboard. They just couldn’t pull the trigger, missing a handful of chances to not only get back into the game but also take the lead before the final break.

Hall finishes late season resurgence in style

Aaron Hall put the full stop on a stunning late season resurgence on Saturday night. Since moving into the middle against Adelaide in round 17, the 24-year-old has produced a great finish to 2015, standing up in a midfield division that is a shadow of its former self due to injury. At the SCG, Hall collected an equal career-high 31 possessions, to go with six inside 50s and a metres gained reading of 625 metres – fifth most for the round. When Hall was thrust into the midfield against the Crows, Rodney Eade had little option after Gary Ablett limped off with a season-ending knee injury. The move now looks like a masterstroke. Hall has defied a non-existent pre season to become a game-breaking player, playing with a flair and confidence that was nowhere to be seen in the early part of the season. In the final seven games, the Tasmanian averaged  27.3 disposals per game, 10.4 contested possessions and 6.1 inside 50s. Elite numbers.

May adds Buddy to 2015 scalp list

Had Steven May started the year in the manner that he finished it, there is little doubt he would have forced his way into All Australian contention. The 23-year-old added Lance Franklin to his list of 2015 scalps, putting the triple Coleman medallist on his mantle piece alongside Drew Petrie (round 14), Jeremy Cameron (round 16), Taylor Walker (round 17), Josh Kennedy (round 18) and Jack Riewoldt (round 20). May’s second half of the season has forced analysts to consider where he sits alongside 2014 All Australian’s Alex Rance and Daniel Talia, as well as Michael Hurley and Jeremy McGovern. He did miss three weeks for that infamous hit on Tom Rockliff and then a game and a half with a groin injury after being substituted out of the game against Sydney in round ten. The first four rounds of the season weren’t great for Gold Coast or May with the Rodney Eade era beginning on a bad note. That first month is likely to hurt May most when it comes to the team of the year. But one thing is certain; he has well and truly entered the top echelon of key defenders in the game.

Another week, another Kolodjashnij four-quarter effort

Kade Kolodjashnij rounded out an ultra-consistent 2015 campaign with another outstanding performance against the Swans. The second-year defender has emerged as one of the SUNS most reliable players this year, shedding any hint of the feared second-year blues to become one of Gold Coast’s most influential players. Kolodjashnij was pivotal in keeping Rodney Eade’s side in the game at different times against Sydney, setting up the play from backwards of centre. He finished with 23 disposals, 12 contested possessions and four rebound 50s to be one of Gold Coast’s best in the big loss. The Tasmanian is tipped to finish high in Friday night’s best and fairest on the back of a year that has seen him stamp himself as one of the best young rebounding defenders in the competition. Kolodjashnij’s precise left foot and bold ball use has seen him quickly become a crucial cog in the SUNS back six. A defensive group which has the capacity to be one of the best ball using groups given it consists of Kolodjashnij, May, Nick Malceski, Trent McKenzie and Adam Saad.

Miller handed potential Brownlow medallist assingment

On Saturday night, Eade handed Touk Miller one of the more difficult tasks in the game: a run-with role on Dan Hannebery. The premiership Swan looms as one of the biggest challengers to Nat Fyfe for the Brownlow medal and was the leading possession winner across the home and away season, averaging 30.3 possessions per outing. Miller’s assignment was part of his evolving football education and one he stuck at all night despite Hannebery still collecting his usual haul of touches. The young SUN was still a key contributor gathering 19 disposals of his own, to go with six clearances, six tackles and four inside 50s. He may not have walked away with the chocolates, but Miller got a front row seat to see how one of the best accumulators and one of the hardest working midfielders in the game goes about his business. Above anything else, another invaluable learning opportunity for Miller in his debut season - a season that has seen him emerge as one of the finest first-year players in the AFL.