Beware of the caretaker coach

Rodney Eade is wary; the Gold Coast SUNS are on alert. The impact of the caretaker coach is a well-known phenomenon, a part of football folklore. Whilst the influence of a caretaker coach might not always produce a rebound win, they typically always produce an immediate improvement in performance. Essendon will be hoping the events of the last week, with the Bombers and favourite son James Hird parting ways in the aftermath of last weekend’s 112-point loss to Adelaide, will yield a direct response. Former Geelong All Australian Matthew Egan has assumed the senior coaching responsibility for the final three rounds of the season. When Carlton sacked Mick Malthouse after round eight, John Barker took the reigns and conjured an immediate lift in effort, although the Blues still lost to Sydney by ten goals. The following week, Carlton under Barker lost by just nine points. The caretaker effect was in full swing, without instantly acquiring premiership points.

Essendon's tall forward line a tough assignment for May and co

This column might be starting to sound like a broken record, but Steven May’s form since returning from a three-game suspension for his hit on Tom Rockliff has been nothing short of brilliant. Essendon may be languishing near the foot of the ladder, but they still possess an imposing forward setup consisting of Joe Daniher and one of either Cale Hooker or Jake Carlisle. The latter pair has spent chunks of time at both ends of the ground, and could be one of the first statements Egan makes as caretaker coach. A week after shutting out Jack Riewoldt, May could draw 2014 All Australian key defender Hooker, who despite inaccuracy in front of goal, has been difficult to beat in the air with his ability to read the ball early and his strong hands. The return of Rory Thompson and Henry Schade is timely given the Bombers tall weaponry, but May will be expected to lead the charge once again, like he has down with aplomb in the last two months.

SUNS need more of the same from red-hot Lynch

With no Charlie Dixon this weekend, Gold Coast will need Tom Lynch to continue his outstanding run of form. The 22-year-old has been arguably the premier key forward in the competition across the last month, kicking 16 goals from four starts as well as averaging nine marks a game. Lynch blew Richmond’s Troy Chaplin up last Sunday on the wide expanses of the MCG through pure gut running. Had he taken his chances in front of goal he would have finished with five or six goals to his name. Essendon’s depth in the key posts will test the SUNS with the Bombers boasting All Australian candidate Michael Hurley who has carved out a stellar season in defence to firmly be in the fold for a maiden team of the year honour. Jake Carlisle is another option given his athleticism, as is Cale Hooker, depending on what part of the ground Egan elects to play him. If Hurley goes to Lynch, the encounter looms as one of the more intriguing of the season given their current form.

Injury curse opens the door for Smith

The injury curse appeared to be receding in recent weeks, but it swept through with vigour once again, forcing the match committee to make three changes to the side that lost to Richmond by 83 points last weekend. Dixon (ankle), Tom Nicholls (knee) and Jarrod Harbrow (knee) are all casualties, whilst Jack Martin has been cleared to play despite being carried from the ground with concussion. Nicholls is unlikely to return again this season, providing Zac Smith with another opportunity at senior level. The ruckman has been in strong form in the NEAFL, but Rodney Eade’s reluctance to play two specialist ruckmen, coupled with Nicholls form this season, has ensured Smith has stayed in the reserves. GWS recruit Jonathan Giles had spent the last three weeks in the ruck for the Bombers, but a knee injury has forced Essendon to recall rookie Shaun McKernan. Given the lack of senior football both Smith and McKernan have experienced this season, the contest is important for the pair heading into 2016.

Is Kolodjashnij the best second-year performer this season? Maybe.

Amid a turbulent season at Metricon Stadium, the consistent form of second-year rebounding defender Kade Kolodjashnij has been exceptional. Kolodjashnij, along with Touk Miller, are the only two players to have played every game this season for the SUNS, and despite having to carry a heavy workload for a teenager, he has continued to perform week in, week out. The was a concern that the Tasmanian would drop off in the second half of the year as fatigue and wear and tear set in, but other than a couple of understandable lapses in games, Kolodjashnij has been one of the premier second-year players in the game this season. The polished left footer was one of the SUNS best against Richmond last weekend with 27 possessions and four rebound 50s, taking his average for the year to 22.0 possessions and 4.3 rebound 50s. To put that into context, last year’s Rising Star recipient, Lewis Taylor averages 20.9 possessions in 2015, Marcus Bontempelli has been brilliant bit inconsistent (20.4 possessions) and James Aish and Luke McDonald have spent large chunks of the season in the twos. Expect Kolodjashnij to be rewarded for his reliable campaign with a high finish in the best and fairest.