Suns fact or fiction
Despite a 2-0 start, is the Suns’ early-season AFL form a false dawn?
I WANT to see the Suns go as well as the next passionate Gold Coast sports fan.
But the reality is the Suns have shown signs of promise before without it amounting to anything substantial and I wouldn’t be getting hopes sky high just yet that this season will be any different.
They were somewhat unconvincing in their Round 1 win over a North Melbourne outfit many have tipped for a dire campaign, almost blowing a four-goal lead in a low-scoring affair. Their effort against Carlton was more convincing, though again over a lower-end club.
Sure, a place inside the top four is a refreshing sight but two wins don’t make a season.
Gold Coast are clearly taking some by surprise at this early stage but these initial successes will no doubt have more fancied rivals clueing on to their approach. No matter how much progress they make under coach Stuart Dew, it will take a monumental effort to stay in the race by the time they play their first true home game at Metricon Stadium in Round 11 – two months from today.
And it’s not as if they have a stack of Metricon games to finish to make up for it. Instead they have had to relocate “home’’ matches including to Perth this week against Fremantle.
Their next seven clashes take them on a nightmare schedule with fixtures in Perth, Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide, Ballarat, Brisbane and China before the bye that leads into that first Carrara game against the Cats. NO, but don’t go locking in any grand final trips just yet.
Gold Coast have become renowned for showing glimpses of hope for fans, whether it be between quarters or after multiple wins.
Their early season wins deserve to be put under the microscope by members due to history, the teams they have played so far and the conditions the Suns played in early this year.
But one thing is glaringly obvious — Gold Coast are no longer going to roll over.
This is a team that is relishing the contest, the gritty wins and the defence any successful team builds their performances on.
Yes, there will be times where fatigue from a young playing group forced on to the road by the Commonwealth Games feels the pinch.
But the Suns have found a way to stay in games, even if their form dips slightly.
It’s a game style that stacks up and it’s up to them to produce it every week.
Fans have pleaded for the team to show some fight in recent years, many became disillusioned.
Even if they got beaten, the fans just wanted signs of life and effort.
They now have it. They have team they can be proud of and even when they are losing, they will continue to get more fans if this is what they are going to bring for 22 rounds. Finals may not come this year or next, but the Suns will continue to improve as they finetune a game that’s injected life into the club.