Ben big hit for Suns in attack
DURING the coronavirus break Suns forward Ben Ainsworth didn’t turn to streaming services like Netflix to pass the time but he still spent plenty of time in front of the screen
While the AFL season was halted the crafty small forward binged on vision of some of the most elite players who play his position in the game and studied how they played in a bid to improve.
Among the three he focused on were Sydney’s Tom Papley, GWS’ Toby Greene and Richmond’s Kane Lambert.
Ainsworth won’t need vision this Saturday, he will get a first-hand look at Papley when Gold Coast play the Swans in Round 7 of the competition at the SCG.
It’s a clash that could push Gold Coast, which is ninth on the ladder, back into the top eight or provide the lift the 17th-placed Swans need to get their season going.
Ainsworth’s personal study has paid dividends, with the 22-year-old already booting seven goals from six games.
“(The good form) has come
on the back of a lot of hard work, working on my knowledge of the game and watching a few elite players of the competition in my position,” Ainsworth said.
“My preparation was more of a focus going in this season. Not that I wasn’t doing it before now but I’m taking it to another level.
“We had a fair bit of time on our hands over the COVID-19 break so I got my hands on some vision of some good players like Papley, Toby Greene and Kane Lambert.
“I’ve been learning how they go about it and what they do off the ball. I’m taking leafs out of their books and extending my game.
“They are quality players of the competition who play my position. If I can take half of what they do and add it to my game I’ll be going all right.”