Sun gets in the swing
Lukosius sees future playing forward and in defence
Jack Lukosius is poised to become Gold Coast’s star swingman, with the arrival of boom key forward Jed Walter unlocking a new doubled-edged weapon in coach Damien Hardwick’s arsenal.
Lukosius, 23, had spent time playing across halfback and on the wing early in his career before shifting to a permanent key forward role alongside Ben King last season.
The South Australian kicked 39 goals last year – including three separate bags of five – becoming a major focal point of the Suns’ attack.
But that again looks set to change this season, with Hardwick eager to use the 195cm talent as a match-up specific plug-and-play piece at either end of the ground.
That was evident in the Suns’ loss to the Western Bulldogs in Ballarat a fortnight ago, when Lukosius began as a defender before shifting forward.
What was thought to perhaps be a one-off move to help combat the potent Dogs forward line instead could become standard operating procedure, Lukosius said.
“I think I will be a bit down back (and) probably a bit forward as well,” he said.
“Dimma (Hardwick) is still trying to shape his system into what he sees going forward, so whatever he wants me to play is where I’ll be.
“I’m lucky enough to have strengths at either end (of the ground). Whatever the team needs to win, I’ll do.”
Blessed with one of the best kicks in the AFL, he profiles as the perfect player to fill that niche in Hardwick’s system as a third tall capable of hurting the opposition with his foot skills going the other way.
And Hardwick now has the luxury of moving Lukosius away from the point of attack due to the arrival of academy product Walter.
The 18-year-old made his
AFL debut against the Bulldogs and showed glimpses of his potential, with his trademark attack on the ball and ground-level pressure a feature.
Though Walter did not have a great impact on the contest in his first outing, Lukosius said he and the club expected big things from the No.3 draft pick. “Obviously Jed is going to be a pretty good player for the club going forward so it’s good to get him in the team and I can fill in spots around that,” Lukosius said. “It’s exciting. He has a bit of a presence to kick to. Down in Ballarat it was a bit windy and with the game not on our terms early it was probably not an ideal start for him, but just his chase and pressure, even when it’s not perfect he’ll find a way to get himself back in the game.
“So I think he’s going to be a great target to kick to.”
The Suns will fly to Adelaide on Friday ahead of a Sunday afternoon Gather Round encounter against GWS.
Star ruckman Jarrod Witts trained on Tuesday and is expected to be fit to face the Giants after missing the Bulldogs clash with groin soreness, while a call on Bailey Humphrey (shoulder) will be made later in the week.