Season 2015 - Gold Coast

Football Discussion Non Essendon Stuff
1

Gold Coast Suns

Coach - Rodney Eade

2014 -
Points for - 9th
Points Against - 13th

Top 5 Best and Fairest

  1. David Swallow
  2. Tom Lynch
  3. Dion Prestia
  4. Gary Ablett
  5. 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.

2

Agree with the summation, although they won’t win the cup next year, because we will. They will do it in '18.

3

Think your first paragraph is spot on.

Was Broughton with them already? Or have I got him confused with someone else?

They’ll make top 6 this year, by hook or by crook.

4

Broughton moved to rookie list I think

5

They have a brilliant team. Strengths in every department.
Extremely talented midfield and very dangerous KPF in Lynch, Dixon, Day and now Wright.

Shoulda made the 8 last season after playing very well for 2/3 of it. Still rely too much on Gazza tho IMO and the kids were already fatigued by rd 16-17.

Can see a significant improvement. Prediction: 8th.

6

They may struggle this year with a new coach and new game plan, it often happens, especially as they are still a young team with regards to the developing stars and also with the added “new” players. It could also go well with them too. I suspect the former though.

Maybe 7-10 this year then jump to top 4 next year.

7

Best 22
B Koldashni May McKenzie
HB Malceski Thompson Harbrow
C Swallow Prestia Martin
HF Rischetelli Lynch Benell
F Dixon Day Matera
R Nicholls Ablett O’Meara
Int Lonergan, Hallaghan Shaw
Sub Garlett
Emg Z Smith, Sumner, Broughton

If their key position players can stand up and young midfielders improve again they should be top 8. And be more competitive against the top 4 teams this year once they have learnt Eades game plan.

May & Thompson dont worry me as key defenders & Day/Dixon dont scare me either as KPF. Lynch should be good though. as long as they create a contest and let ball spill for smalls they have done their job.

8

I much prefer the way GC are going about it compared to GWS. It seems they are building a club with a real footy culture. The list is balanced and full of talent. Anything less than a finals appearance this year will be deemed a failure.

9

Finals are begging, the talent in that side suits the skill full running attacking play of Eade. Whilst they have the defensive chops to be a nightmare for every team next year.

I think 2015 will be the year Lynch becomes a household name and the Suns midfield becomes dominant.

Ablett for 50+ goals laying a larger part of his game resting on the HFF.

10

Should win 12 to 13 games which is enough to play finals. I see no real weaknesses in their list - Possibly need to beefen up their auxiliary defensive talls.

Tip - Jack Martin has rare talents - Will be the best of their young guns.

11

Should have done better last year IMHO. Very very disappointing collapse (in terms of effort / percentage, if not actual wins & losses) once GAJ was hurt. Haven’t quite got that development right over the previous years, to give the younger tier enough responsibility without him.
Positives - the big fellas started to come of age last year (May, Dixon & Lynch at least). If they get Thompson & Smith back up & into really good form, and work out the 2nd ruck role (Day / Nicholls / Gorringe not quite there), it makes for a more than reasonable spine, considering they’re all 22 or younger.
The million dollar question is how much they learnt from that collapse. Can’t rely entirely on one bloke, no matter how good and how consistent he is.

I can’t really see where Wright fits in, unless someone else falls over. Now have 4 blokes fighting for that 2nd ruck/3rd forward/bit parts tall slot.

B: May Thompson Malceski
HB: McKenzie Tape Kolodasfkjfaskjfasuifasu (bless you)
C: Prestia Swallow O’Meara
HF: Martin Dixon Bennell
F: Day Lynch Matera

R: ZSmith Ablett Rischitelli

I: Stanley Harbrow Lemmens Broughton Schade Garlett Miller etc

Tons of ruck depth. Too much, they kept them this year but you can’t keep that many blokes (Nicholls, Gorringe, Leslie, Wright) in the 2s forever.

EDIT: more fixeder

12

You’ve got two Lynch’s and two May’s in that side.

I’d have:
B: Harbrow May Tape
HB: McKenzie Thompson Malceski
C: Prestia Swallow Rischetelli
HF: Bennell Lynch Martin
FF: Day Dixon Matera
R: Smith Ablett O’Meara
I: Kolodajshnji Nicholls Stanley SUB: L.Shaw

13

I always do that with Day/May.

14

That’s a great side with lots of young guns already showing their value
Prestia
O’Meara
Swallow
Bennell
Martin (too early to tell)

15

Think Martin will be the best of this group.

16

Im not sure its a given they will be top 8. LOTS of teams are vying for 4-8 including us.

In saying that, they are so much better than gws its not funny.

17

Quoted Post

Im not sure its a given they will be top 8. LOTS of teams are vying for 4-8 including us.

In saying that, they are so much better than gws its not funny.

I think it’s a given

18

Quoted Post

Should have done better last year IMHO. Very very disappointing collapse (in terms of effort / percentage, if not actual wins & losses) once GAJ was hurt. Haven't quite got that development right over the previous years, to give the younger tier enough responsibility without him. Positives - the big fellas started to come of age last year (May, Dixon & Lynch at least). If they get Thompson & Smith back up & into really good form, and work out the 2nd ruck role (Day / Nicholls / Gorringe not quite there), it makes for a more than reasonable spine, considering they're all 22 or younger. The million dollar question is how much they learnt from that collapse. Can't rely entirely on one bloke, no matter how good and how consistent he is.

I can’t really see where Wright fits in, unless someone else falls over. Now have 4 blokes fighting for that 2nd ruck/3rd forward/bit parts tall slot.

B: May Thompson Malceski
HB: McKenzie Tape Kolodasfkjfaskjfasuifasu (bless you)
C: Prestia Swallow O’Meara
HF: Martin Dixon Bennell
F: Day Lynch Matera

R: ZSmith Ablett Rischitelli

I: Stanley Harbrow Lemmens Broughton Schade Garlett Miller etc

Tons of ruck depth. Too much, they kept them this year but you can’t keep that many blokes (Nicholls, Gorringe, Leslie, Wright) in the 2s forever.

EDIT: more fixeder

The skill is there, seems up to now they had a mindset. Pass it to GAJ, he will be the architect of our ball movement.
Seems the players had not learned how to direct play themselves and make good choices . I should think they will be working on improving this area above all else in the preseason, then they will not use Ablett so much, as a result they will be less predictable than in the past. That will not stop Ablett from winning his own ball. But the team should not fall apart without him out there. Absolutely not an easybeat anymore . No record 1/4 time scores against them !

19

When Prestia is your weak link in the midfield you are doing ok.

20

Quoted Post

When Prestia is your weak link in the midfield you are doing ok.

Prestia is considered a weak link?

I would have thought Rischitelli or Hallahan would be considered that if anyone. Hallahan more so because of inexperience and lack of senior opportunities at Hawthorn, despite being impressive when given a game.