Fresh off a bye, the in-form Giants are entering tomorrow’s curtain-raiser in prime condition and with plenty of confidence after dismantling the Sydney Swans seconds in their 63-point victory at the SCG.
On the contrary, NEAFL coach Shaun Hart will be looking for an improved performance from his young Gold Coast line-up, the boys failing to make the most of their opportunities inside-50 as they Swannies raced away as 27-point winners.
But it’ll be easier said than done for the NEAFL SUNS, the club’s rising injury toll restricting Gold Coasters to just ten senior-listed players.
Medium-sized forward Nathan Wilson is just one of the Giant’s many emerging stars and is guaranteed to receive plenty of opposition attention, after the 184cm goal-kicker’s three-goal haul against the Swans saw the Giant earn the best-on-ground honours.
“They have some dangerous small-forwards and experienced tall bodies so we have to deal with that,” Hart told goldcoastfc.com.au on Friday.
An inspired fourth quarter charge against UWS in Round 13 saw Hart’s NEAFL squad overcome a third-quarter scoreboard deficit when the two sides met last, the SUNS stealing a miraculous 20-point victory at Blacktown International Sports Park.
But the Giants have been in red-hot form since tasting defeat to the Gold Coasters, having gone on to record impressive victories against Queanbeyan, Tuggeranong and Sydney with an average winning margin of 125 points.
“They’re very strong, as they were last time, and have certainly improved in a number of areas on their game.”
“We will have our work cut out if we don’t do everything to get the game on our terms tomorrow.”
The Gold Coast SUNS curtain-raiser against the UWS Giants gets underway at 10:05am at Metricon Stadium.
A valid ticket for the Gold Coast SUNS v Carlton game is required to gain entry to the curtain raiser game. Entry to ticket holders is only permitted through Gate 3 from 9.55am onwards.
Please note, parking for this curtain raiser event will be available at Emmanuel College on Birmingham Road for a cost of $10.00 per vehicle.
