On the back of Saturday night’s impressive four-quarter performance against North Melbourne, a handful of players have been rewarded with votes from coaches Rodney Eade and Darren Crocker.
Key forward Charlie Dixon and rebounding defender Kade Kolodjashnij shared the spoils with nine votes apiece. Dixon etched his name into the Gold Coast SUNS record books with a club record seven goals.
The Queenslander was dominant, particularly in the second-half when he made a mockery of the Kangaroos defence, with Robbie Tarrant and Scott Thompson having no answers for Dixon’s diverse game.
Kolodjashnij has been if not the SUNS most consistent player this season, among the top few. The Tasmanian was brilliant in the opening half when the game was on the line, with his calculated disposal and poise under pressure setting the game up from backwards of centre.
The 19-year-old collected 19 possessions in the first-half, before finishing the night with 28 next to his name, along with 14 contested possessions and six rebound 50s.
Steven May produced his best game of the campaign with a comprehensive job down back. It wasn’t his pure statistics that caught the eye, rather his organisation of a back six that has at times struggled for leadership and direction.
After emerging as one of the best young key defenders in the game last year, May reminded the football world how good he is. He stifled the influence of North Melbourne veteran Drew Petrie, before supporting his teammates in aerial contests to finish with a massive 14 spoils.
It may have taken him a little while to work into his return game, but after the main break - particularly in the final term - Gary Ablett reminded the game just how brilliant he can be. The dual Brownlow medallist was good without being great, but his good is great. If that makes sense.
Ablett collected nine possessions in the opening half before working his way into the game to finish the night with 31 and three goals. His last quarter was supreme – 14 touches and two goals type of supreme.
With the return of Ablett and David Swallow in the midfield, Michael Rischitelli flourished with the added support and leadership around him. The veteran midfielder has been asked to carry the can for much of the year, but with the pair’s return he flourished, gathering 28 possessions and laying nine tackles to be one of the SUNS’s prime movers.
Gold Coast v North Melbourne
9 Charlie Dixon (GCS)
9 Kade Kolodjashnij (GCS)
6 Steven May (GCS)
3 Gary Ablett (GCS)
2 Jamie Macmillan (NM)
1 Michael Rischitelli (GCS)
