Suns revamp put to test
AFLW Demons to pose questions of strengthened Gold Coast midfield
THE Melbourne Demons will pose the perfect litmus test of Gold Coast coach David Lake’s new-look side and revamped game plan when the Suns play host to the perennial finals contenders in their AFLW season opener on Saturday.
After running the rule over a 2020 campaign that largely turned heads but ultimately came up short of a finals berth, Lake has identified two key areas in need of improvement if the Suns are to go to another level this season.
“What did we learn? In the middle of the ground we need to get better,” Lake said.
“And help for (Kalinda) Howarth and (Britt) Perry (in the forward line) to honour the work.”
To that end the Suns went to the draft and elsewhere to pull in players who would bolster the engine room and provide greater forward potency.
Lake’s hope is a fitter, faster and sharper Suns will be better equipped in transition and make the most of their forward entries in 2021.
With a fully fit Paige Parker set to wreak havoc on a wing, joined by VFLW Southern Saints get Bess Keaney on the other, the Suns suddenly boast outside runners with speed to burn that Lake hopes to take full advantage of.
Two 2020 draft selections – pick seven Annise Bradfield and pick 57 Lucy Single – join former North Melbourne midfielder Alison Drennan as inclusions Lake feels can lift the output of his engine room.
Up forward, the addition of former Crows premiership winner Sarah Perkins drew all the headlines but she is not the only new Sun set to make a mark in the forward 50.
Explosive athlete Maddison Levi (Pick 50) broke the AFLW combine record for the 20m sprint and is tapped to spend time forward, while livewire Northern Territory product Janet Baird (Pick 54) will bring “a bit of forward clever” according to her coach.
With incumbents Howarth, Perry and Jamie Stanton in the mix, Lake’s Suns suddenly “become a little bit dangerous” in the forward 50.
And the experienced coach believes the Demons, boasting a hardened backline and talented midfield led by Karen Paxman, will pose the perfect first-up test of his side.
“They’re really athletic. Powerful. They’ve cleaned out a few and kept some quality,” Lake said.
“They’re very strong (down back). They love to attack from there; love their short 45s to get through the middle of the ground.
“Their midfield with Paxman and Hanks … Paxman is one of the better players in the AFLW in my view. Very powerful.
“And Mcnamara is a running machine breaking records out on a wing, so someone will have their there.”
Pit against his former footy pupil Mick Stinear, who captained Lake’s Mt Gravatt to a premiership in 2007, the Suns coach welcomed a contrast in coaching philosophy and styles.
“We have different focus points but a mutual respect for each other’s views,” Lake said.
“His sides are front-end – in the first four or five sides in the comp year on year.
“(Last year) they only just missed out on finals. That tells me there’s a gettable part about them, but they’re never far away. It’s a great test.” hands full out