A MONTH OF SUNS DAYS
FORMER Suns hardman Campbell Brown says this year’s Gold Coast side can break through for a historic AFL finals appearance but has warned the next four games against Melbourne, West Coast, Hawthorn and Carlton will define their season
FORMER Suns player Campbell Brown says the next month will make or break the Gold Coast’s shot at a historic first finals series.
Gold Coast (3-5) will get some rest this weekend due to a bye before preparing for a month of what Brown labelled very winnable games.
The Suns were embarrassed by Port Adelaide in China and will need to make full use of upcoming games against Melbourne in Alice Springs, West Coast at home, Hawthorn at the MCG and Carlton at home in order to improve their 12th place standing.
“It is a big month for them and every game is pretty big,” said Brown, who played 46 matches for the club between 2011 and 2013.
“They should be relatively fresh coming off the bye even with the travel (from China).
“They can regroup and hopefully get a couple of players back. They are four very winnable games if the Suns bring their best.
“You never know with a young group building in confidence and seeing maybe the dangle of the carrot for the first finals opportunity could bring out their best footy.
“It is probably the first real opportunity they have got to play finals footy this year.
“It’s theirs to take if they want it so it should be a great challenge for them.”
Pearce Hanley (heel), Jesse Lonergan (shoulder), David Swallow (knee), Matt Rosa (concussion) and Callum Ah Chee (back) are among those who could potentially return from injury after the bye.
Brown said consistency was the biggest challenge for a young Suns team that had made inroads off the back of a high intensity run-and-carry style game.
“They have shown they can beat anyone – it’s about maintaining that consistency,” Brown said.
“Their run and carry off the half-back line is superb. When they get going and link up with their hands they are a hard side to slow down or stop.
“There are still plenty areas of improvement for all of them but I think this year is such an even season and any particular week we have seen more upsets than ever before.
“They are right in it and I think finals are still a real possibility for them if they continue to find that consistency and play that brand of footy.
“There is probably too big a difference between their best and their worst.”
Brown, though, warned Gold Coast to come prepared with a different blueprint after the Power shut down their run last round by limiting the opportunities for the likes of rebounding defender Adam Saad.
“Sides will be coming in with a game plan to slow them up at all costs,” Brown said.
“That’s just up to the coaching staff and players to be aware of that and come up with a plan B.
“They might just have to learn to play a little bit of tempo football, switch the play a bit and use the full width of the ground and try to do it another way.
“AFL clubs these days are scouting pretty hard on opposition and trends. They are obviously doing their homework on the Suns and realise if they can slow them down across the halfback line they will struggle to get the ball through.”
THEY ARE FOUR VERY WINNABLE GAMES IF THE SUNS BRING THEIR BEST BROWN ON THE SUNS’ MONTH