Ever since their inception, every man and his dog put forth their opinion on the Gold Coast Suns.
Some parties suggested the ‘experiment’ be disbanded and relocated to Tasmania, others cried foul at the perceived excessive funding from the AFL, with only a minority suggesting that events should play out as to give the young team a chance to develop and eventually challenge in the men’s competition.
10 years to the day of their license being granted to play in the AFL, it is beginning to appear that the Suns have reached the point where they are able to compete week in, week out with a solid JLT Community Series and two strong showings in the opening rounds.
But where did this spark come from?
How did a team, who were largely considered to be a rabble, doubtful of even winning a game this season, manage to turn their fortunes around so covertly?
READ: A NEW DAY FOR THE SUNS?
Throughout the seasons, Gold Coast have suffered setback after setback, with little to nothing appearing to go their way on the surface.
Coming off a 16th place finish (continuously juxtaposed with GWS 11th place finish), the 2016 season began disastrously for the Suns, losing their star first rounders in Jaeger O’Meara (Hawthorn) and Dion Prestia (Richmond).
2017 rolled along, and with it came the loss of Gary Ablett, Adam Saad and Brandon Matera, with rumours of unrest and unhappiness bubbling to the surface across the board.
The final slap in the face came with co-captains Tom Lynch (Richmond) and Steven May (Melbourne), Jack Scrimshaw (Hawthorn) and Kade Kolodjashnij (Geelong) all leaving the club via requesting a trade or free agency.
Yet amid all the doom and gloom at the Suns, there were signs of a rebuild starting to form.
The selection of four top 10 draft picks in the 2016 draft in Ben Ainsworth, Jack Scrimshaw, Will Brodie and Jack Bowes signified a desire to build a strong, youthful base to grow together and, eventually, peak together.
Touk Miller began to emerge as a player capable of becoming a solid, reliable midfielder for seasons to come, with the youngster topping the Suns' tackle and possessions count at the end of last season.
The recruitment of Jarrod Witts and Pierce Hanley - players who are now of the utmost importance to the Suns - for relative peanuts saw an added element of experience and talent to guide a youthful group.
2017, along with being the season where current co-captain David Swallow returned to the field properly, saw the additions of Wil Powell and Charlie Ballard, a further testimony to the Suns’ newfound strategy of targeting and nurturing talent at a young age.
2018 compounded this strategy with the additions of three highly touted youngsters in Izak Rankine, Jack Lukosius and Ben King, however this time observed some experienced additions in Anthony Miles (Richmond), Jack Hombsch (Port Adelaide) George Horlin-Smith and Jordan Murdoch (both Geelong).
Scrimshaw aside, the base the Suns have built around these dynamic players is there.
Bowes, a player described as a ‘Rolls-Royce’ upon his draft selection, is averaging 25 disposals, 12 contested possessions and six tackles per game to become an imperative cog of the Suns’ flourishing midfield.
Witts (39 hit-outs) finished third behind premier ruckmen Max Gawn (45) and Brodie Grundy (40) last season in average hit-outs per game for players who played more than 15 games, and is once again averaging 40 hit-outs per game in the opening two rounds.
Take Ballard (11 intercepts per game) and Powell (410 metres gained per game) out of the Suns’ lineup, and immediately they look like a side bereft of both run and manpower down back.
Further testimony to this rebuild the Suns have undertaken is the fact after two games they rank third in the competition for contested possessions per game (164), intercepts per game (83) and tackles inside 50 per game (13); all key indicators of high intensity, belief and desire to perform well, to which coach Stuart Dew must take credit for.
Aside from their forward 50 entries and scoring, the Suns look a more professional side; refusing to panic under pressure, maintaining possession of the ball in the back half, and picking their moments to attack.
But this is still a young team.
Despite toppling a seemingly strong Fremantle outfit and being desperately unlucky to not knock over a confident St Kilda, expectations should and must be tempered.
This side will most likely still have its low points this year, however there is a clear change in intensity within the Suns this year.
Players, such as Witts and Swallow are committing their futures long-term; the aforementioned drafts of 2016/17 are coupling their obvious talent with a newfound hunger.
Lock in the talent from the 2018 draft long term, and a solid base has been built for this young side to thrive off.
The question is, will the sun start to rise over the Gold Coast?
The answer lies in the future, but at the moment it’s appearing to be a decisive yes.
Comments