Gold Coast Suns
Coach - Rodney Eade
2014 -
Points for - 9th
Points Against - 13th
Top 5 Best and Fairest
- David Swallow
- Tom Lynch
- Dion Prestia
- Gary Ablett
- Jaeger O’Meara
2013/2014 Rising Star Noms
Jaeger O’Meara
Tom Nicholls
Kade Kolodjashnij
Jack Martin
Ins
Nick Malceski, Mitch Hallahan, Peter Wright, Jarrod Garlett, Touk Miller, Josh Glenn (rk), Adam Saad(rk), Keegan Brooksby(rk), Tyrone Downie(rk), Greg Broughton(rk), Andrew Raines(rk)
Outs
Nathan Bock, Tom Murphy, Karmichael Hunt, Campbell Brown, Jackson Allen, Jack Hutchins, Jeremy Taylor, Matthew Warnock, Leigh Osborne, Greg Broughton, Andrew Raines
My prediction
Clearly the Suns expect to play finals football, is easy to see why they expect it. Their selection of coach indicates the development phase is over and now they want to make the finals and then exit without a premiership but get close enough to keep their fans sort of satisfied but also mildly resentful.
I actually think Rocket was the right coach. He has done well previously with average lists, being gifted such a strong list, it will be interesting to see what he does with it. I think Eade will move the game plan away from being too much about Ablett, there is enough talent without him and I think they will benefit from the time without him at the end of last season.
The forward line started to work last year and after being put in the shadows for talent but the GWS kids they finally showed they have the talent to trouble other teams. The backline is a different story but I would expect some natural development this year and they should improve.
I think the Suns were good enough last year to make the 8 so I expect they will certainly make it this year. They aren’t a threat to the premiership (they win that next year and the year after before GWS has its turn) but I think they will be in the 6-8 range and will spend a great deal of the season looking a chance for top 4.