Campbell Brown and Harley Bennell kicked four goals and were among the shining lights for the GC SUNS in the side’s 36-point loss to the Sydney Swans last weekend, but will not take part in this weekend’s NAB Challenge against the Demons with Brown not eligible for Round 1 due to a six-week suspension, while the match committee has unanimously agreed to rest Bennell after shouldering a busy pre-season campaign which included a best-on-ground performance in the Indigenous All Stars exhibition match.
“Bluey” said that Bennell’s omission from the 26-man senior squad was to ensure the rising AFL star would fresh and ready to go for the GC SUNS in their season opener against St. Kilda on Saturday 30 March at Metricon Stadium.
“He was among the trio of players that flew to Alice Springs for the Indigenous All Stars clash,” said McKenna.
“From memory, Jarrod Harbrow had a week off after featuring in the All stars clash and (Steven) May only played limited minutes... so we thought it would be a good chance to rest Harley by giving him a couple of weeks off before the start of the home-and-away season.”
With key position players Sam Day, Steven May, Zac Smith and Daniel Gorringe all expected to get a run through the forward-half this Saturday, McKenna poured cold water over reports that the club was still experimenting with their forward structure.
“We’re not tinkering with our forward structure, but I think what our forwards are experiencing is our ability to defend better,” said McKenna.
“We’re having repeat inside-50s which is a bit of a shock to them to be honest... normally it bounces in our forward-50 and it runs down the other where we’ll have to resurrect it off our half-back.”
“So it’s rare that they have to lead and make space for those repeat inside-50s.”
But McKenna shed some light on the matter, with the club among the competition leaders in counter-acting against forward pressure.
“Our ball movement from our defensive-50 is ranked 1 or 2 in the competition, but unfortunately we just haven’t been able to hurt them on the scoreboard,” McKenna said.
“Against Sydney we had six opportunities inside-50 in the first ten minutes of the opening term but we couldn’t hit a barn door.”
McKenna said the onus to ensure targets were hit would have to be placed upon the player delivering the ball inside-50.
“We have to put more heat on the kicker because our execution is the issue… the more opportunities we get though the more experience the boys will gain and overtime we will hit the better targets.
Meanwhile, Danny Stanley is unlikely to take part in the NAB Challenge against the Demons with the key midfielder experiencing groin soreness. Jack Hutchins is expected to take his place after being named in the 26-man squad yesterday.
