Power win the midfield battle, but Lonergan demonstrates his value as a tagger again
For the first quarter and a half, Gold Coast engaged Port Adelaide in an arm wrestle with neither team able to break the game open. The game was far from pretty, although the wet conditions were conducive to stoppages and congestion. But to Rodney Eade’s displeasure, after a strong start against quality opposition, three goals in the second half of the second quarter gave the Power the ascendancy heading into the main break. The midfield battle was always going to be pivotal given the conditions and that’s where Port Adelaide broke away. Hamish Hartlett (32 disposals), Sam Gray (37 disposals) and Robbie Gray (26 disposals) led the way for the visitors, helping set up the 37-point win on the back of a massive inside 50 discrepancy (+26). Port Adelaide captain Travis Boak was well held by Jesse Lonergan, who also spent time on Hartlett in the second half after he ran riot early in the piece. The big-bodied SUNS onballer has shown an aptitude for tagging in the final stages of the year, having completed some big jobs now on Trent Cotchin, Tom Rockliff and Matt Priddis. He is one player who has emerged in the back half of 2015 and put his hand up to be part of the SUNS engine room once the Rolls Royce’s are ready to leave the pits again.
Mr Consistency, Kade Kolodjashnij, at it again
Despite playing every single game this season, second-year rebounding defender Kade Kolodjashnij is finishing with a full head of steam, showing no signs of fatigue that typically dogs young players late in the season. The Tasmanian has been arguably Gold Coast’s most consistent player this year and has become a vital part of the SUNS' back six. On Saturday night, in the wet, Kolodjashnij’s class was on show for all to see. He was clean with his ball handling, made the right decisions under pressure and more importantly he hit his targets. The 20-year-old has been asked to carry a massive load this season and has done so with aplomb. Against the Power, the half-back flanker had it 27 times and used the ball at an exceptional 80 per cent by foot, to go with eight rebound 50s in a performance that we have become accustomed to seeing in 2015. Of all the second-year players in the game, Kolodjashnij sits comfortably alongside the likes of Jesse Hogan, Patrick Cripps and Marcus Bontempelli.
Kolodjashnij playing like it's a dry game. Clean. Safe hands. Reliable by foot
— GC SUNS (@GoldCoastSUNS) August 29, 2015Well, this bill should be large...
A large collection of players from both teams should expect to be a little lighter in their pockets this week after an all-in melee erupted on the half time siren. There was plenty of heat in the contest throughout the opening half with a number of spot fires emerging throughout the first half, before everyone got involved on the far wing once the half time siren sounded. Once the scuffle ceased, Tom Lynch was left without a jumper after Port Adelaide’s Cameron O’Shea tore it off him in the blue and it was launched into the front row. The melee may not only result in monetary penalties with a few players holding their breath to see how the Match Review Panel assesses the incident. With only one round to go in the season, it would be far from ideal to have any players missing in the early rounds of next year due to suspension.
Matera finishing year with a bang
Brandon Matera continued his strong finish to the season with one of the most complete performances of his career against Port Adelaide on Saturday night. It wasn't Matera the mercurial, kicking goals from absolutely nothing. It was the Matera that Eade has been moulding. A harder working version. The West Australian collected an equal career-high 26 possessions, nine marks, two goals and put the ball inside 50 on six occasions. In difficult conditions, Matera’s ball handling and vision stood out. Similar to Kolodjashnij, he thrived in the wet and produced another effort built on work rate. Only last week, Rodney Eade praised Matera’s improved work ethic over the last eight weeks and suggested that the polished left footer was starting to reap the rewards. In the last five weeks, Matera has averaged 21.8 touches disposals per outing, collecting the ball higher up the ground and becoming more influential on transition. Matera gained 631 metres – ranked 5th in the competition in round 22 – highlighting how damaging he was on Saturday night at Metricon Stadium.
The injury toll that never ends
The Gold Coast SUNS have been pummelled by injury this year. That is an understatement, given the amount of players and the quality that has been swept aside this year by a never-before-seen injury curse. At different stages throughout 2015, the match committee have had only 23 or 24 players to pick from. Out of 46, only half have been available at times. On one occasion, such was the level of decimation, Eade was forced to select Nick Malceski to play as a substitute when he wasn’t ready to return from injury. This weekend’s game against Sydney is looming as another one of those instances due to more carnage. Luke Russell was substituted out with a rib injury, Danny Stanley hurt his groin after taking the vest off, Aaron Hall battled back spasms in the final quarter and Harley Bennell hurt his calf in the warm up and the SUNS tried to start him in the vest but the paperwork was already lodged. Gold Coast’s effort and intent hasn’t limped to the finish line, but that may be the case this week, especially if more injuries emerge in the wash up or suspensions.
