Suns have major worry
Coast claims unwanted record by kicking just two behinds in QClash
THE impromptu QClash was hyped as one of the biggest games on the AFLW’s slate of Round 2 fixtures – instead it was all one-way traffic at Hickey Park in Brisbane’s north.
Host Brisbane put on a scoring clinic against the visiting Gold Coast Suns, running out comprehensive 10.5 (65) to 0.2 (2) victor.
The Lions moved to 2-0 for the season and the Suns 0-2, with the Round 3 matches yet to be confirmed.
We ran the rule over a horror afternoon for the Suns and found five key talking points from the 63-point loss.
THE WRONG RECORD
A WEEK removed from kicking a club-record 35 points against Melbourne in Round 1, the Suns were held to just two points against the Lions.
The performance eclipsed Richmond’s three-point effort against St Kilda in Round 6 last year for the lowest score in competition history.
It took until midway through the third quarter for the Suns to hit the scoreboard for the first time – a Jamie Stanton behind.
Britt Perry’s attempt on goal late in the final term trickled through for a behind to end the Suns’ miserable day in front of goal.
Conversely the Lions kicked their highest score in AFLW history.
FROZEN OUT
SUNS coach David Lake’s emphasis in the off-season was on faster transition through the middle of the ground to create damaging inside-50 opportunities.
But on Sunday the Suns failed to find any spark in transition and were held to their lowest inside-50 count (15) since last season’s 9-8 opening-round loss to GWS.
The Suns plucked nine marks inside 50 against the Demons last week but managed just one on Sunday.
After a two-goal starring club debut last week, Sarah Perkins was held to just three touches – most of them up the ground – as the Lions dominated. Britt Perry presented well and nearly snagged a late goal, while 2020 AFLW AllAustralian Kalinda Howarth was also forced up the ground in the second half to find the footy.
DRENNAN’S CLASS
FROM the outset on Sunday, recruit Alison Drennan proved why the club was so eager to acquire her services in the off-season.
The former North Melbourne and St Kilda player had 14 touches to halftime and finished with 18 for the match, equalling centre-half back Lauren Ahrens for most disposals in the team.
Brisbane’s experience around the ground appeared a cut above the younger Suns but Drennan, who also had 17 disposals against the Demons in Round 1, made sure the Lions’ midfielders didn’t have it all their own way.
INJURY CONCERN
ADDING injury to insult for the Suns on Sunday was the loss of the club’s top pick from last year’s AFLW draft, Annise Bradfield.
The No.7 overall selection was set to play a key role in Lake’s midfield this season but that now seems unlikely after the 18-year-old went down clutching her right knee in the first quarter.
Without knowing the extent of the Bond University QAFLW star’s injury, her reaction on the bench was tough viewing.
Fingers crossed the gritty midfielder gets some good news this week.
SO WHAT NOW?
THE second term aside, the Suns were impressive in the opening round against a Melbourne Demons team many think will be a serious finals contender in 2021.
The assessment in the aftermath of Round 1 was mostly positive but the Suns are unlikely to feel similar about the QClash defeat.
The Lions were 17-point victors when the two teams met in a pre-season hitout only three weeks earlier but looked a class above that performance on Sunday.
Is Brisbane simply that good? Or do the Suns have more to work on than we perhaps realise?
The answer may be somewhere in the middle. Gold Coast was set to hit the road to face Collingwood in Melbourne this weekend before the fixture reshuffle pit the side against Brisbane three weeks earlier than anticipated.
Prior to the swap, Lake welcomed the away trip to Melbourne as a chance to bring his side closer together.
The fixture scribes are yet to pencil in the Suns’ Round 3 opponent but if Lake’s hypothesis is true, perhaps escaping Queensland will do his players some good following their tough match at Hickey Park on Sunday.