Best 22 – round one
B: Jesse Joyce, Rory Thompson, Kade Kolodjashnij
HB: Jarrod Harbrow, Steven May, Michael Rischitelli
C: Lachie Weller, Aaron Hall, Brayden Fiorini
HF: Alex Sexton, Tom Lynch, Jack Martin
FF: Nick Holman, Sam Day, Ben Ainsworth
Foll: Jarrod Witts, David Swallow, Touk Miller
I/C: Jarryd Lyons, Jack Bowes, Aaron Young, Darcy Macpherson
Emerg: Michael Barlow, Will Brodie, Jack Leslie, Tom Nicholls
2017 best and fairest top three
1. Gary Ablett
2. David Swallow
3. Jack Martin
Injury list
What was an almost perfect pre-season has just started to sour. Pearce Hanley dislocated his shoulder in the final JLT clash against Brisbane and will be sidelined for 4-6 weeks, while Sean Lemmens hurt his hamstring against Geelong and will miss round one. Peter Wright strained his calf a week earlier but is expected to be fine for the season opener. Callum Ah Chee injured his hamstring and is back running but will miss the start of the season, while Harrison Wigg dislocated his ankle pre-Christmas but is recovering well and should play NEAFL early on.
The big questions
Will Tom Lynch re-sign?
One of the biggest questions in the AFL and one that won't be resolved until later in the season. Lynch is in the prime of his career and will attract huge offers from a number of clubs. The SUNS really need to improve – and win – this season to show him there's a bright future there.
How will they go in the first 10 weeks?
With the Commonwealth Games at Metricon Stadium in April, the SUNS are on the road for the opening 10 weeks. It's a brutal reality they must deal with. Gold Coast need to bank wins early or risk having its season in free-fall before the halfway mark.
What impact will Stuart Dew have?
Any new coach brings optimism and Dew is no different. The long-time Sydney assistant has brought energy and a family-first approach in his first off-season. They have drilled defensive pressure and a 22-man contribution, but how it translates to games, only time will tell.
Look for…
More defensive pressure. At best the SUNS were sporadic in this department last season – sometimes they were downright lazy. Dew has coached at Sydney the past seven seasons and will make it a point of emphasis. Effort, intensity and high pressure will be the basis for his initial game plan.
Who they play
Look no further than the first 10 weeks on the road. Everywhere from Cairns to Melbourne to Adelaide to Perth and ultimately China to play Port Adelaide. The SUNS have a more-than-favourable first five weeks, playing fellow 2017 strugglers North Melbourne, Carlton, Fremantle and Brisbane in that span. When they eventually return to Carrara, the powerhouse Victorian clubs come to town and they should draw big crowds if Gold Coast is competitive.
Fantasy cash cow
The two Gold Coast recruits look two of their best value players. At $387,000, Aaron Young is great value considering he'll split his time between half-forward and midfield. Lachie Weller ($521,000) is a little more expensive, but with three years under his belt at Fremantle, should really start hitting his straps in 2018.
Sudden impact
In Weller and Young, they have two players traded in who should play all season. Weller came in exchange for the No.2 draft pick and should add to their outside run, while Young provides a good forward option and foil for Lynch, Wright and Sam Day. Of the draftees, Wil Powell is skilled and brave and might see some action, but don't expect it to be too much.
Aaron Young brings goal sense and hard running from Port Adelaide. Picture: AFL Photos
It's crunch time for…
Rory Thompson. The injury-plagued defender faces some real competition for his spot from Jack Leslie. At his best, Thompson is the perfect sidekick for Steven May – dour and disciplined. But too often he misses games and costs the team. He's had a great pre-season and now it's time to back it up in the premiership matches.
Pressure rating on the coach
Cold as ice. It's Stuart Dew's first season in his first coaching gig, so the bar won't be set too high. In saying that, all eyes from around the league are on the Suns to see if – after seven seasons – they can finally make some inroads towards the top eight.
The 2017 habit the Suns must kick…
Falling away in games. Too often when the SUNS trailed, the folded like a tent. They lost seven games by nine goals or more last year. Try and remember the times when they fell behind by three goals and came back? Round one against Brisbane, that's about it, and even then they fell short. The Suns must become more resilient.
The SUNS will have a good year if…
Their best 25 players stay fit. The top end of the list is strong, but if a few injuries hit, the depth drops away pretty quickly, mainly due to inexperience.
They're in trouble if …
They don't win in the first five weeks. It's as soft a draw as you could hope for early on and they must cash in. If not, the heavy hitters start coming thick and fast and it's awfully tough to turn things around.
Pass mark
This is a tricky one. From a six-win, 17th-placed finish and the loss of Gary Ablett, how high can the SUNS realistically be expected to climb? Giving the finals a nudge, being competitive every week (because they're good enough) and keeping Tom Lynch will be deemed a success.
AFL.com.au predicted ladder finish: 16th
Player Ratings star
Jarryd Lyons, 32nd. After an excellent 2016 for Adelaide, Lyons continued his form in his first year with Gold Coast. He rose more than 100 spots, from 135th to 32nd overall in the Schick AFL Player Ratings.
