Suns strategy hits snag on ‘ home’ ground

GOLD Coast’s hopes of stealing the cash and the points today have been dashed with a late surge of ticket sales to the Fremantle faithful set to deliver a bumper crowd.

Dockers memberships did not secure access to the clash with the undefeated Suns, who are the home team at Perth’s new Optus Stadium, having sold the fixture for a figure believed to be $ 600,000.

Ticket sales had been slow until the Dockers’ upset of Essendon last week prompted renewed interest.

It was announced yesterday that the top tier of the new stadium had been opened, which suggests there will now be a crowd of close to 40,000.

Suns coach Stuart Dew, taking a leaf out of opposite number Ross Lyons’ standard tight- lipped pre- game style, said the Suns would simply carry on with what had secured them their opening two wins of the season and both JLT Challenge games.

“We haven’t had any tricks in the four games so far and we’re certainly not going to try and pull a rabbit out of a hat,” he said.

“We’re looking for consist- ency and effort from our whole group.”

The clash will see players from both sides taking on old mates for the first time.

Foundation Sun Brandon Matera, who played 101 games for the club before returning to Perth in the off- season squares off against new Sun Lachie Weller, who expects a fiery welcome from his old mates at the Dockers in his 50th game.