Zac back to attack GWS
THE Gold Coast Suns will roll the dice on a tandemruck attack against GWS today with big man Zac Smith to play a key role in his return to the senior side.
Suns coach Rodney Eade has tasked his tall men with providing the height needed to gain an advantage over the Giants today in their AFL Round 16 clash at Carrara’s Metricon Stadium.
Eade hopes the change of approach in the ruck will help turn around the side’s fortunes after a disappointing late blowout against Western Bulldogs last Saturday.
“We have got to be able to win that (the ruck contest) to give our forwards a chance,” Eade said.
Gold Coast ruckman Tom Nicholls has been one of the club’s best since being selected instead of Smith after the team’s Round 7 loss to the West Coast in May.
His form and Eade’s hesitance to play two ruckmen has kept Smith out of the side.
Smith has found his groove again thanks to the spell with the reserves and has been knocking on the door for weeks for a call-up, which Eade could no longer ignore.
“Playing two rucks probably hasn’t worked in the past,” Eade said.
“His form has been sensational so you have to reward players that are in some form. Most of the players that are available are tall players.
“There wasn’t many midfield type or running types but his form has been that good that we just needed to play him.”
Eade said Smith had returned to the form that made him the Suns’ No.1 ruckman.
“I think he has just got back to the basics,” Eade said.
“He has got back to what his strengths are. He has decluttered his mind and has worked on his strengths and starting to mark the ball.
“Now that he has got his confidence up, I’m hoping that’s a positive thing he can take into the game.”
The onus on the likes of Nicholls and Smith to make an impact will be enhanced by the absence of leading Suns goalkicker Charlie Dixon, who has been ruled out with an ankle injury.
“He was very close to playing,” Eade said.
“He looked after it well Saturday and Sunday night … woke up every three to four hours and iced it.
“He ran yesterday and was very close but just his change of direction he felt it a little bit. In the past maybe Charlie has played when he has had an ankle problem and probably played too soon.
“Hopefully he can have continuity from the next week onwards.”
Seb Tape (hamstring) and Sean Lemmens (omitted) are the other changes to last round’s team as Peter Wright, Clay Cameron and Joshua Glenn join Smith in the side.
Midfielder Harley Bennell will make his return to the field through the club’s reserves, who will play GWS hours before the seniors at Metricon Stadium.
Bennell has been out of the side for two weeks over a drug scandal.
Eade said if Bennell can display improved effort to the coaching staff and senior playing group he will be available for selection in the AFL next week.
“Just what we have seen in the past couple of weeks, just the attention to detail and what is expected of him as a professional player,” Eade said.
“He is historically a good trainer and he has done that but it’s just all the little things that go along with that.
“I hope we see some effort in the game and that’s all we want to see.
“We know he is talented but it’s not so much his performance as far as quality, it’s about the effort.
“If there is effort in his preparation and his effort in the game is there then there is a fair chance he will be in.”