THURSDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
Suns’ historic blockbuster
The Gold Coast Suns will reach a new milestone at Metricon Stadium on Thursday night when they play their first AFL game outside of the usual weekend timeslots.
The Suns have proved to be worth putting in the prime-time broadcast slot of Thursday for their exciting start to the 2020 season.
The club is on the verge of breaking its membership record and has a team stacked with talent worth watching, including young gun Jack Lukosius who opens up about his growing stature in the game on
AFTER heavy scrutiny over his play on the field last season and his contract status off it, Gold Coast young gun Jack Lukosius is more comfortable and it’s showing.
After being taken with the second pick in the 2018 National Draft behind Carlton’s Sam Walsh, the South Australian played 21 games in his debut season.
He started as a forward, spent time on a wing and ended up in Gold Coast’s backline at the tailend of the season.
However, most of the interest around Lukosius centred on whether he would commit to the Suns longterm. In November he did, extending his deal until the end of 2022.
With 12 months under his belt in a new state and a handful of games in his new defensive role, the 19-yearold started the year with a clear head.
And now he’s flourishing. Lukosius is averaging 15 disposals a game, but it’s the damage he does with them that’s so eye-catching.
He is racking up a teamleading 379m gained each match — 13th in the AFL — and has a kicking efficiency of more than 70 per cent.
“I feel like I belong now and I’m a part of it,” Lukosius said. “It definitely took time.
“Last year I wanted to play every game but I was overthinking everything, which is probably normal for a young player. I wouldn’t change anything from last year, it’s set me up pretty well for this year.
“I’ve seen the game from behind the footy, in front of the footy and with it in the midfield.”
Lukosius said the licence he had been given to be aggressive with his kicks had made a huge difference.
After just 28 games, he is rapidly emerging as one of the best ball users in the competition.
“They’ve got full confidence in me, which is great,’’ he said. “If I miss a kick it doesn’t sit in my head for too long, I can move on pretty quickly, and I think the coaches love that as well. They are willing for me to take my kicks.
“It’s great to have that confidence from them.
“I think it can set me apart from other players and be an asset to the team. When there’s a chance to be dangerous, I’m looking for it.”
Lukosius has been trusted with kicking-in after behinds for Gold Coast and is essentially a designated ball user from the defensive 50 who is willing to take risky kicks into the corridor to open up the Suns’ attack.