Gulf in midfield personnel narrowing by the week

The gulf in midfield personnel has been a major point of concern for the duration of the season. Injuries are often used as excuses, but when your first-choice midfield is unavailable, your prospects severely diminish. Some players are irreplaceable, regardless of the young talent at the Gold Coast SUNS' disposal. Players like Gary Ablett and David Swallow – the only two men to ever win a Gold Coast best and fairest. And finally, the pair returns after an extended absence due to long-term injuries. Ablett’s return needs little focus. For those that expect him to return to his majestic best, consider the time he has spent on the sidelines and realign your expectations. One thing that’s certain is his return will provide an added layer of guidance and experience - two areas that have been lacking during 2015.

SUNS onball division must respond after poor showing against Carlton

The return of Swallow, coupled with Ablett, is a considerable boost for an engine room that was comprehensively beaten by Carlton last Sunday. Rodney Eade’s side performed admirably in adverse circumstances against a glittering Fremantle side prior to the bye. But before that, the undermanned and inexperienced midfield has battled for the most part of the year. The SUNS' inability to spread has been widely documented, with opposition sides cutting Gold Coast apart. An area identified in the following areas – disposals differential (ranked 18th), uncontested ball differential (18th) and inside 50 differential (17th). Whilst the absence of Harley Bennell and Jack Martin hurts, the return of Ablett and Swallow will undoubtedly assist this area of unease.

Lynch & Dixon show set to resume after taking off last weekend

During the first half of last Sunday’s encounter with Carlton, the Tom Lynch-Charlie Dixon tandem looked capable of tearing the game apart. The Blues simply had no answers for their understanding of each other’s games as the pair read each other’s moves before their opponents had an opportunity to respond. When Dixon went off in the third quarter, Lynch struggled to influence the game like he had with his partner in crime out there. But with the return of Ablett and Swallow, the inside 50 count should rise, providing greater opportunity for scoreboard impact. And given the SUNS currently sit last on both the ladder and for points scored at an average of 67.7, an increase of forays inside the arc will certainly provide a much needed boost. Key defender Robbie Tarrant has emerged as one of the surprise packets of 2015, with the injury prone forward reinvigorating his game at the other end of the ground. With Tarrant, Scott Thompson, Lachie Hansen and Michael Firrito patrolling the Kangaroos defence, the SUNS will need to devise a strong plan for impacting the scoreboard.

The task of Goldstein could shape the affair

Todd Goldstein presents arguably the toughest ruck task in the game at the present time. His form this season has been nothing short of extraordinary, prompting football experts across the country to pencil him in as an All Australian at the halfway turn. Tom Nicholls’ strong patch of form hit a wall on Sunday, with the Gold Coast ruckman having his colours lowered for the first time in a long time. After firmly grasping the No. 1 ruck mantle during the first half of the season, Nicholls will need to return to his best against Goldstein this weekend, especially given the fact the North Melbourne star is coming off a performance against GWS that saw him register the highest hitouts tally in the games history with 80 – ten more than Aaron Sandilands posted against the SUNS in round eleven. Competition for ruck spots has intensified in recent weeks with Zac Smith stringing together a series of strong performances in the twos.

After two weeks in the vest, Malceski set for full 120

After starting the last two games with the green substitutes vest adorned across his chest, Nick Malceski appears ready for a full game. The All Australian defender was injected into the fray late in the third term, and in a rather unprosperous night from a disposal perspective, Malceski quickly got involved in the game – collecting 12 possessions in just 31 per cent game time. His first season in the sunshine state has not gone according to plan, but with ten games remaining there is still time to salvage the year. The return of Ablett and Swallow should deflect the blowtorch on Malceski that has burned bright at different times this season. But he will be judged on what he can produce across a full four quarters, if Eade elects to play him for the full 120 minutes.

Diverse, new-look North Melbourne front six to test SUNS

North Melbourne’s poaching of Shaun Higgins and Jarrad Waite last season signalled the club’s intent to top up ahead of another assault on a deep finals berth. At the halfway mark of the year, Higgins appears to be reinvigorated at Arden Street, producing near career best form to be one of the Kangaroos best performers thus far. With 22 goals next to his name, Higgins and Lindsay Thomas lead North Melbourne’s goal kicking, ahead of Waite on 19. The former Carlton forward hasn’t quite clicked just yet for Brad Scott, with the Roos juggling a mix of tall forwards at times with stalwart Drew Petrie and Ben Brown. Although, Majak Daw has replaced Brown this weekend, another tall. Gold Coast’s back six will have their work cut out for them on the weekend with such a diverse group to manage. Steven May’s form last weekend, the return of Sam Day and the rise of Henry Schade stages an intriguing counter. Whilst who goes to Higgins, Thomas and Brent Harvey when he goes forward is still a mystery.