Giant strides made in 2013
- After 19 losses by 10 goals or more in 2011-12 and an average losing margin of 59 points the SUNS avoided 10-goal losses completely in 2013 and had an average losing margin of just 29 points
- Gold Coast’s overall percentage increased from 51.4 in 2011 and 56.6 in 2012 to 92.5 in 2013
- The SUNS’ total quarters won increased from 22 and 26 in our first two years to 38 quarters won in 2013
Young blood
The SUNS are set to play three 19-year-old debutants – Jack Martin, Clay Cameron and Sean Lemmens. It will be the fourth time in the club’s 67-game history the SUNS have fielded three or more AFL first-gamers in the same game. Other occasions have been:
- Round 2, 2011 – 12 debutants in the club’s very first game against Carlton at the Gabba.
- Round 3, 2011 – 3 debutants vs Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium in the club’s second game - Maverick Weller, Michael Coad and Daniel Gorringe.
- Round 7, 2011 – 3 debutants in the first Q-Clash vs Brisbane at the Gabba – Sam Day, Tom Lynch and Joseph Daye.
Gold Coast also fielded three or more SUNS debutants twice (including players who had played for other clubs prior to coming to the Gold Coast).
- Round 22, 2011 - Nathan Ablett, Tom Hickey and Joel Tippett
- Round 1, 2013 – Tom Murphy, Greg Broughton and Jaeger O’Meara
Assuming Martin, Cameron and Lemmens all play, they will be the 62nd, 63rd and 64th SUNS players, while Cameron will be the 17th Queenslander.