Call it a masterstroke by Rodney Eade or whatever you like, but the decision to play Tom Lynch at one end of the ground for the duration of the game may not have earned four premiership points but it was a shrewd move. Lynch spent the night perched at the wind dominated end of the ground, across half-forward one quarter and across half-back the next. He thwarted opposition forays inside 50 and provided a strong option in attack. Lynch finished the game with 13 possessions, eight marks and two goals to be one of the SUNS best performers.
Against his old mob, inside midfielder Mitch Hallahan produced the finest effort his 12-game career. Opposed to one of the strongest midfields in the game, Hallahan accumulated a career-high 30 disposals, 16 contested and seven clearances to be Gold Coast’s most prolific ball winner at Aurora Stadium. In tough conditions that suited his style, Hallahan played with a point to prove.
Steven May’s return to senior football after serving a three-match suspension reminded the football world how effective he can be down back. Opposed to triple premiership star Jarryd Roughead, May kept him to just 0.1 from 11 possessions and minimal impact in Tasmania. Despite the 53-point loss to the Hawks, May’s return bolstered an inexperienced back six significantly, which will grow in confidence with more exposure in the coming weeks.
Tom Nicholls continued his strong run of form with another consistent performance against the Hawks. The SUNS ruckman may not have been as dominant as in recent weeks, but he played a major role in keeping the stoppage war pretty even. Nicholls finished the game with 25 hitouts, 14 possessions and six tackles to contribute once again.
Who was your best player in round nine?
After eight rounds, Michael Rischitelli still leads the Fans Player of the Year award on 155 votes, ahead of Dion Prestia on 114 votes and Adam Saad on 104.
