SUNS’ NEWLY-ACQUIRED GRIT A WARNING TO RIVALS
CONTEST and pressure will undoubtedly be more of a priority for the Gold Coast Suns in 2018 if their two JLT Community Series matches are anything to go by.
After demolishing Geelong by 56 points in their JLT Community Series opener in Townsville and backing up against Brisbane in a Southport quagmire on Sunday, the club will enter the season in form after showing marked differences to their 2017 style of play.
The Suns ranked dead last in the AFL for tackles per game last season and also forced the fewest turnovers in the competition.
Against Geelong last week the Suns registered 77 tackles – 15 more than their 2017 average – to Geelong’s 62 (Geelong were the AFL’s best tackling side in 2017), and forced the Cats into turnovers all game as they piled on repeat forward 50 entries with fierce pressure.
In Southport, the Suns put Brisbane under siege with 94 tackles – albeit in wet, tackle-friendly conditions – underlining that they have
undergone a profound identity shift towards tackling and pressure under Stuart Dew.
A lack of tackling and an inability to force turnovers killed the Suns defence and dropped anchor on their attack last year.
In their back half, teams could score at will due to a lack of defensive pressure.
On the scoreboard, the Suns’ forwards could never benefit off the turnovers that create 60 per cent of total team scores in the AFL.
The Suns have clearly set out to flip the script on the view they are a side reluctant to get their hands dirty.
Gold Coast’s method of ball movement also appears to have undergone a systematic overhaul.
In the side’s two preseason wins, the Suns lost the disposal count comfortably, yet kicked with 64 per cent of their possessions – a drastic change from previous trends.