Hawks add to SUNS' woes with 53-point belting
The Age
Alex Fair
This was supposed to be a complete massacre. Gold Coast, a young side with their heart and soul ripped out by injury, against the reigning premiers, who have made a habit of winning big on the rebound.
On a ground where they have never won, a venue where the home team has lost only twice this decade, and against an opponent it has yet to defeat.
Gold Coast came to play, and for the first time in a long while, they brought their pressure game. Aided at times by heavy rain and a strong wind, the Suns had the Hawks rattled.
While this resulted in football that wasn't even close to pretty, the scrappy nature at least allowed them to compete with their more-fancied opponents.
The likes of Mitch Hallahan, Jesse Lonergan and Jarrod Harbrow threw themselves into the contest, displaying a desire that we have only seen rare glimpses off this year.
May says Gold Coast injury crisis is helping young players lay foundation for future
Courier Mail
Andrew Hamilton
Steven May says he has noticed a major improvement in his young teammates and believes that through the injury crisis a foundation is being laid that will prepare the Suns for finals success.
May made a stunning return from his three-week suspension in Saturday’s 53-point loss to premiers Hawthorn by keeping All Australian and Coleman medallist Jarryd Roughead goalless.
“I feel like I did my job, getting suspended hurts the team and watching those last few weeks was very frustrating and it was my chance to make up for it,’’ he said.
“We still lost but the positive thing for me was I was able to come in and do my job which I was nervous about because Roughie is a gun.’’
May said the defensive group he returned to had improved drastically in his absence despite still missing Rory Thompson and Nick Malceski.
The curse killing Queensland football
Newscorp
Ben Higgins
Is there something in the water up north?
The two Queensland teams are battling a combined injury crisis this season, one that is almost unprecedented.
Brisbane and Gold Coast have played a combined 72 players this season. Top of the table Fremantle has played just 26 players so far this season.
The SUNS have just three players who have featured in all nine games this season. The Lions fare better with 11 players to have played every game. The Dockers have 18.
