As Round 1 of the 2019 AFL Toyota Premiership Season draws closer, goldcoastfc.com.au has taken a look at the upcoming player milestones.
Pencil these dates into your diary.
150 AFL Games
Current Games Tally – 145
Milestone Expected – start of season
After only managing 16 games in his two seasons at the club so far, Pearce Hanley is back to full fitness and ready to attack his football once again. If all goes to plan, Hanley will reach the 150 games milestone in Round 5, becoming the fifth Irishman in the history of the sport to do so.
100 AFL and Club Games
Current Games Tally – 97
Milestone Expected – start of season
His nous around goals is incredibly valuable to the SUNS, and in Round 3 Alex Sexton will hit the 100-game milestone. Originally taken with Pick No. 88 as a local talent access selection in the 2011 draft, Sexton has become a revelation in his last two seasons, leading the club for goals kicked in 2018. Sexton will become the third Queenslander to play 100 games for the club behind Jarrod Harbrow and Rory Thompson.
Current Games Tally – 82
Milestone Expected – end of season
The club’s vice-captain is due to play his 100th game in Round 19, if he plays every game up until that point. Miller has been a pivotal member of the SUNS midfield in the last few years and the leadership he provides on and off the field is hugely valued. The 23-year-old will be hoping for an injury-free season so he can hit his milestone in 2019.
Jack Martin
Current Games Tally – 81
Milestone Expected – end of season
If Martin doesn’t miss a game, he will hit his 100th game milestone in Round 20. The classy right-footer has impressed all over the ground in his 81 games to date, most notably starting his career as a forward. In the past two years he has played more time in the midfield and looks to be one of the club’s most skilful players. After missing a large chunk of the 2018 season through injury, Martin will be hoping for a clean bill of health this year to reach his milestone.
100 AFL Games
Current Games Tally – 98
Milestone Expected – start of season
After coming across from Port Adelaide at the end of last year, Jack Hombsch is primed to play his 100th game in Round 2 of the 2019 season. Hombsch will be eager to make an impression at his new club and become a key figure down back for the SUNS after the loss of Rory Thompson to an ACL injury.
Current Games Tally – 98
Milestone Expected – start of season, pending return from injury
Like his former Port Adelaide teammate Hombsch, Aaron Young is also nearing his 100th AFL game – currently sitting on 98. An ankle injury will see him miss the start of the season, but Young will be doing everything possible upon return to win his spot back in the Best 22.
Current Games Tally – 80
Milestone Expected – end of season
Co-captain Jarrod Witts can only miss a maximum of two games this season if he is to reach his 100th game in 2019. Currently on 80 games, if he plays every match he is due to hit the mark in round 21. The former Collingwood ruckman landed at the SUNS at the end of the 2016 season and has slotted seamlessly into the SUNS midfield and leadership group. His work at stoppages and around the ground has seen him average career-best numbers in disposals and hit-outs.
50 AFL and Club Games
Current Games Tally – 49
Milestone Expected – start of season
Pending selection, Peter Wright will play his 50th match this Sunday against St Kilda at Marvel Stadium. The tall forward is entering his fifth season on the Gold Coast and will be looking to improve on his seven AFL games last year due to injury. Wright is set to shoulder most of the responsibility in the forward half this year and has looked exciting during the pre-season to date.
Current Games Tally – 47
Milestone Expected – start of season
Often going under the radar, Jesse Joyce has turned into one of the club’s most reliable defenders in the past two years. Pending selection, the Academy product couldplay his 50th AFL and SUNS game as early as Round 3, making him the first SUNS Academy graduate to hit the milestone.
Current Games Tally – 44
Milestone Expected – start of season
After a couple of injury-affected seasons, Callum Ah Chee is primed to play his 50th career and club game in 2019. He could hit the milestone as early as Round 6 if he plays every match and has the skillset to be an important player this year with his capacity to play at both ends of the ground.
Current Games Tally – 29
Milestone Expected – end of the season
Currently on 29 AFL games, Ben Ainsworth needs to play all but one game this year if he is to reach the 50th game milestone by season’s end. Ainsworth was firmly entrenched in the best 22 last season and looks set to resume that role after impressing both in the midfield and forward line.
Current Games Tally – 45
Milestone Expected – start of season
Tom Nicholls has not played any senior football since 2016 as a result of persistent injuries and the strong form of incumbent ruckman Jarrod Witts. As a result, Nicholls is still sitting on 45 career games and will need to work hard to force his way into the senior team this year to possibly play alongside co-captain Witts.
50 AFL Games
Current Games Tally – 31
Milestone Expected – end of the season
Coming to the club as a free agent at the end of 2017, Nick Holman made an instant impact at the SUNS playing all 22 games. As a result, the former-Blue is in line to play his 50th AFL game in Round 20 if he holds his spot in the team from Round 1. Holman has been managing ongoing back soreness throughout the pre-season, so may need time in the NEAFL to build match fitness before being considered for senior selection. If this is the case, he can only miss three AFL games before missing out on hitting the milestone in 2019.
