Top Dogs big threat
INJURED Gold Coast recruit Michael Barlow says his Suns will be planning for the Western Bulldogs’ premiership best this afternoon in Cairns.
Barlow, who fractured his leg earlier this season, travelled ahead of the team to the Far North this week and believes the Suns will not be thinking about the Bulldogs’ up-and-down 2017 campaign.
“We will be preparing for their best,” Barlow said.
“They have been a bit inconsistent this year but they showed in that final month of last season how good they can be and we will prepare for that footy.
“They play a pretty similar style to Collingwood, who we played last week, to take the game on through the corridor.
“We know they are an offensively-minded team and we would have reviewed our defensive areas this week after the Collingwood loss.”
Barlow’s AFL season is over after he had surgery to repair a fractured leg suffered in the Suns’ 10-point loss to Carlton recently.
He will spend the rest of the season watching from the stands but the on-baller cannot speak more highly of the Suns’ Jack Bowes.
Bowes, a Cairns Saints junior, will play his first AFL game in his home city today and Barlow is an unabashed fan of the silky midfielder.
“He is a lovely person and a great young man,” Barlow said. “He is very respectful.
“His demeanour does not change from week to week depending on his performance, which is great.”
The Suns will need Bowes to be at his best after they go into the match without Gary Ablett, co-captain Steven May (hamstring) and mid- fielder Jarryd Lyon (ankle) all sidelined.
Suns running defender Pearce Hanley is looking for a consistent performance from his club.
The Bulldogs’ premiership big man Jordan Roughead is relishing his role as the club’s lone ruckman.
Youngsters Tim English and Tom Boyd as well as Tom Campbell have spent time as the Dogs’ man in the middle at points this season but Roughead will again lead the ruck division today.
He will get a chop out from forward Jack Redpath this afternoon against Suns ruckman Jarrod Witts.
“Much the same as what I have for the last 18 months,” Roughead said.
“I enjoy playing in the ruck and big Jack Redpath will give me a bit of help in there, no doubt.
“Jarrod Witts is in good form at the Suns, it is his first year up there.
“He is playing some good footy and the challenge is ahead of us and we are looking forward to it.”
Roughead is hoping the Bulldogs can continue their form from their win over Carlton last Sunday.
“It was probably the most even contribution we have had from our 22 for quite a while,” he said. “It was an even contribution across the field.
“We know when we do that, we are a good team and we can take it up to most sides.
“That is what we will be focusing on going forward.”