CLASH KINGS
LYNCH WANTS SUNS TO OWN LIONS DERBY
GOLD Coast will look to begin a period of sustained QClash dominance on Saturday with the new Suns cocaptains prepared to pull AFL great Gary Ablett into line to make it happen.
A Suns team poised to fight for the finals should be too much for a young and developing Brisbane Lions, who have just welcomed new coach Chris Fagan, in the season opener at Metricon Stadium.
But in a derby where form often goes out the window, Gold Coast have only ever won two successive games over the Lions.
Suns co-captain Tom Lynch said it was time the results reflected the form of the two teams as the Suns look to put the Lions to the sword in an important year.
The Suns cannot afford to drop four points against any team likely to finish outside the top eight.
“We definitely want to be Queensland’s best team,” Lynch said.
“We know Brisbane really lift when we play them in QClashes.
“Both teams always lift for the local rivalry so we know they are going to be really tough this weekend.
“We want to have a period of dominance and that starts this weekend.”
It will be the first time Lynch and Steven May lead the team in an AFL game since being named co-captains.
They come in to the roles with experience after taking on the leadership separately last season during former skipper Ablett’s absence through injury.
May said they already felt entrenched in the position.
“It doesn’t feel too different because when Gaz went down last year we were asked to take over,” May said.
“That was when it was high pressure and we didn’t really expect that to happen.
“Now we have had a whole summer getting used to the responsibility.”
The big difference on Saturday will be that Ablett will be out on the field alongside the duo, who are now happy to call out the dual Brownlow Medallist if required.
“The way he’s been as captain before ... he wasn’t too big on hierarchy,” May said.
“Even though he was captain he wanted everyone to keep each other accountable.
“So now that we are the captains if he is out of line he would expect that. I hope he takes it the right way because it is a bit different talking to such a legend of the game.
“We don’t get embarrassed to talk to him like that because he is a genuine and humble guy.”