Hugh’s in the Suns’ new faces

GOLD Coast coach Stuart Dew is confident his new-look team has not lost any of the momentum from its impressive preseason heading into today’s AFL season opener.

The Suns begin their 2020 season against Port Adelaide at a locked-out Metricon Stadium.

Dew has handed debuts to top-two draftees Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson as well as academy product Connor Budarick, while ex-Richmond premiership player Brandon Ellis and former Adelaide defender Tasmanian Hugh Greenwood will also make their first appearances for the Suns. All five were heavily involved in the Suns’ two pre-season wins over Geelong and the Crows, and Dew expects the uncertainty over the season because of the coronavirus pandemic to have had little impact on his team’s confidence.

“We’ve been able to keep that momentum going ... they were unanimous in wanting to play and for all the right reasons,” he said.

“That’s been the main thing. We’ve had good competition for spots in selection and I think that’s added to that energy around training and quality and that.”

Port also has the air of a team on the up and has selected forward Mitch Georgiades for his AFL debut after an impressive pre-season.

Ex-Sun Charlie Dixon will not play because of an adductor strain, but Dew has no doubt the Power will be strong first-up opposition for his team, which is on an 18game losing streak stretching back to Round 5 last year.

“They’ve got some serious A-graders going through their line-up and we will make sure that we give them full respect,” Dew said.

“We know it’s going to be a massive challenge for us but one we’re looking forward to.”