History will be created at Friday night’s Gold Coast SUNS Club Champion with a new winner set to join three-time best and fairest recipient Gary Ablett and 2014 champion David Swallow as the only victors in the SUNS' short history.
After finishing runner-up in last years count, will Tom Lynch be rewarded for his outstanding season and go one better? Does key defender Steven May finish with enough momentum or will a slow start come back to hurt his chances of saluting?
Kade Kolodjashnij has been a picture of consistency all season long. As has Michael Rischitelli. Will they accumulate enough votes across the season to be anointed the next Gold Coast Club Champion?
First-year midfielder Touk Miller has been a revelation this season, playing every game and becoming the benchmark for pressure at the club. Has he done enough to pull off an almighty feat and win the coveted prize in his debut year?
Departing spearhead Charlie Dixon is certain to poll some big numbers in a handful of games where he dominated. And a certain dual Brownlow medallist is also likely to do what he does best when he returns for a short time.
He may have run out of steam towards the back end of the year as fatigue set in and his groin became incapacitating, but who could forget Adam Saad’s start to the year. It was nothing short of enthralling, with his audacious runs from the backline captivating the football world.
THE CONTENDERS:
During a year of carnage - where a collection of stars missed large chunks of football (Ablett, Swallow, Dion Prestia and Jack Martin) and some missed the entire campaign (Jaeger O’Meara) - Lynch stood up and produced an outstanding year. The key forward backed up his breakout 2014 with 43 goals this year to become one of the most potent young attacking weapons in the game.
Lynch was fundamental in Gold Coast’s improved output in the back half of the season, tearing games apart in a handful of best on ground performances. He did damage at both ends of the ground against Adelaide in round 17 to start a purple patch of form that saw him boot 19 goals in five weeks, including a five-goal haul in a Marcus Ashcroft medal winning performance against Brisbane.
May’s back nine mirrored Lynch’s. He finished in such a convincing manner that prompted some sections of the media to suggest he should be considered for All Australian selection.
The key defender finished the year with an impressive haul of scalps, beating Jarryd Roughead, Drew Petrie, Jeremy Cameron, Taylor Walker, Josh Kennedy, Jack Riewoldt and Lance Franklin in the back end of the season. His controversial hit on Brisbane captain Tom Rockliff in round five, which drew a three-game ban, could prove costly by the end of the best and fairest count.
Second-year rebounding defender Kolodjashnij has been arguably Rodney Eade’s most consistent player this season. The Tasmanian belied his inexperience to become a vital component of Gold Coast’s back six and one of the SUNS most reliable ball users, becoming the architect from across half back.
After debuting in round one, Miller quickly established himself as a regular in the SUNS best 22. With his manic pressure and clean, crisp hands, the Victorian emerged as one of the best first-year players in the competition.
As the year wore on, and the injury toll mounted, Miller became increasingly important in Gold Coast’s engine room, producing a series of dependable performances across the 22 games. He finished sixth in Wednesday’s AFL Rising Star behind runaway leader Jesse Hogan and will be one of the leading candidates in the AFL Players Association best first-year player prize.
During a year where a plethora of experience and class was absent for large chunks due to injury, veteran midfielder Rischitelli was required to fill the void left by Ablett and co. He did so with aplomb, not only from a leadership perspective, but also in his football. Rischitelli averaged 22.4 possessions, 6 tackles and 5.4 clearances in his best season since crossing from the Lions in 2011.
