The Gold Coast SUNS Fans Player of the Year will see one player crowned as our best player in 2016. You, the fans, will vote on who you think is the most deserving recipient this season.
Selecting a best player from Saturday’s 61-point win over Essendon isn’t an easy task, with so many SUNS worthy of receiving votes.
Captain Gary Ablett made his highly anticipated comeback from injury and didn’t disappoint, gathering 20 disposals in an impressive first half. The little master finished the game with 34 touches, nine clearances, seven tackles, seven inside 50s and 1.3 to his name.
Fellow midfielder Dion Prestia also returned from injury to collect 29 disposals, nine tackles and eight inside 50s while Aaron Hall picked up where he left off in 2015, accumulating a career-high 36 disposals, nine inside 50s and a couple of goals.
Former Eagle Matt Rosa had 32 possessions and nine marks while Michael Rischitelli, in game number 200, finished with 27 touches, 10 clearances and seven tackles.
Alex Sexton finished with 23 disposals, Jarrod Harbrow, Touk Miller and Jesse Lonergan each had 20 and Nick Malceski 19 in a solid all-round team performance by the SUNS engine room.
Up forward Tom Lynch slotted four goals to go with 18 disposals and seven marks, a good first-up performance by a player earmarked to take the competition by storm in 2016. Jack Martin and Sam Day also finished with a couple of goals apiece.
Meanwhile, at the other end of the ground Steven May was at his defensive best, collecting 10 spoils and keeping dangerous Essendon forward Joe Daniher to just one goal.
