Uncapped recruits heart of Suns’ plan
GOLD Coast’s former cocaptain’s anchored either end of the ground with 254 games between them.
This year two men yet to make their AFL debuts stand on the cusp of replacing them.
Sam Collins and Chris Burgess look destined to replace Tom Lynch and Steven May in the key positions in the back and forward lines respectively, particularly given Rory Thompson’s seasonending ACL injury.
It comes after strong performances in the JLT Series,
culminating in yesterday’s 19.9 (123) to 11.15 (81) loss to Sydney at Oakes Oval in Lismore in front of 4918 fans.
“We weren’t sold on who would play where, in particular the key defensive stocks,” Suns coach Stuart Dew said post-game.
“That’s why we went for a bit of experience down (back) and getting Sammy Collins in
and even Jack Hombsch from Port Adelaide.
“Chris presented well. We will have to sit down and it gets a bit harder getting 26 down to 22 (but) he has certainly mounted a fair case (for Round 1).”
Gold Coast’s top draft pick Izak Rankine will undergo scans on his hamstring after injuring it in the second quarter,
while Aaron Young limped off in the third quarter with an ankle problem.
It halted a promising preseason campaign for exciting forward Rankine, who looked destined for the club’s March 24 season-opener against St Kilda in Melbourne. “We (were) playing against a premiership contending list so would have been great to see him out there for the whole time,” Dew said.
Pearce Hanley was among Gold Coast’s best in his first game of the season after an injury-hit 2018 that restricted him to just three games.
“He is like a new recruit,” Dew said.
“It was great to see him back up and going. It was a nice little tune-up for him in a fortnight’s time.”
Sydney took control from the start in Lismore and picked the Suns apart with their ball movement and transition, while a clunky Gold Coast struggled to find their targets inside 50m.