Now before I get into this I’m well aware that it’s only round 5 and the Suns may not have beaten a worthy opponent. However  I’m surprised why there are no questions being asked on the dramatic turn in form and game style of this team. Yes it’s good for the game but they have already equaled their 2019 wins.

Step in Rowell - he is a genuine star and game winner, can’t deny that but you cannot tell me that one 18 year old kid is at the heart of this as I just won’t buy it. You need to remember the majority of this team has not changed. These guys were bottom of the ladder and it was this time last year they were being faced with a mass exodus of players according to the media.
 

It was also no secret that Matt Rowell was going to be a number 1 pick. Not just a promise but a guaranteed superstar and maybe a once in generation prospect. What this kid has put on show has not been a disappointment and he’ll definitely win a few Brownlow’s if nothing short of a disastrous  injury doesn’t get in his way.  

So how does one explain this compelling turn of events? Is it the coaching prowess of a 2nd year senior coach? Is It the natural maturing of a side that has been lost for years and has been gutted of it stars? Or is It something more malicious at play here? 

What do you think Demonland?

Edited June 30, 20204 yr by CYB
Spelling mistake

Rowell is a good get, but so are Ellis and Greenwood. They are benefiting from the recruitment of a couple of big, mature bodies and not losing draftees for a couple of years. Couple that with development of their young blokes and playing at home every week (especially against Freo who are a bottom side).

They had a good start to last year as well and then fell off a cliff. Not saying it will happen this year, but they still have to sustain it for another 12 weeks.

They can also add an Andrew McLeod type in Izak Rankine who's junior highlights featured unimaginable forward craft, if they get his body right and he doesn't head back to SA.

Looking evident that Gil will have his wish of the two expansion clubs competing for premierships for the next decade.

Edited June 30, 20204 yr by John Demonic

I wouldn’t say that they tanked last year. But they tanked. 

Probably got a bit to nailing their draft picks, albeit most of them were high picks. Sad to say but their list looks far superior to ours. 

I have a close contact at Gold Coast. They have world class stadium and training facilities, a young list who like the Coast lifestyle. Ellis and co, mature gets  have been huge from a playing and non playing perspective. Apparently they spend a lot of time at the Club. Sure they might drop off a bit but GC have well and truly past us on most metrics. 

Not one heavy block/tag has been put on their youngsters....yet

Watch the really good clubs do their homework

And Thomas is not a tank engine.

They have some serious young talent (again), complimented by some harder bodies, and then aided by a shipwreck of a season where they’ve been able to play at home in front of small crowds against teams who are being massively put out like the Perth teams.

Edited June 30, 20204 yr by Forest Demon

And their biggest crowd will be 10k unless a big Melbourne team is playing during school holidays.

Total waste of money and talent

Backline: Easily gone from 4/10 to 7/10

Instant full back - Collins. Instant back pocket - Budarick. Hanley back. Lukosius - pick 2 in his second year. Ballard a very good kid becoming a man. Hanley fit. Harbrow. Bowes.
 

midfield:

Greenwood, Ellis, Rowell, Anderson. 4 very good players. Instant transformation from ordinary to at least competent when combined with Witts, Miller and Swallow

forwards: Day finally healthy. Sexton, Ainsworth both quality. King ready enough early in the season before wear and tear to produce.

4 capable mids when you’ve got plenty of talent at either end will boost any side. The amazing thing is that not only did they get Anderson and Rowell but they conned they afl in to 4+ other priority picks. They’re going to be good for a long time 

I watched that game as well last week and they did not miss a doubtful Free. My opinion on Rowell. Just wants to be a bit careful he doesn't end up Cats Paul Newman....

The key here is that all of their opponents since the shutdown have also been stuck on the Gold Coast.

They let go all the players (3 of which were captains) who didn't want to be there and invested heavily to support their youngsters.

They have a very clever coach with a good game plan that is easy to understand and deliver on.

I suspect short quarters help their youth get thru a game.

They look like a team that is galvanised and will give it all they have.  And goodness when they see an 18 y.o throw (Rowell) himself around the ground how can that not inspire teammates.  10 coaches votes in each of the last 3 games.  Not a fluke.

  On 30/06/2020 at 10:34, Little Goffy said:

The key here is that all of their opponents since the shutdown have also been stuck on the Gold Coast.

This is it for me.  No doubt they have improved since last year, but they've had arguably the easiest run out of any team so far in the comp.  We will see their true improvement when they face a few real tests in the coming weeks.

They got a priority pick on top of all the other talent on their list and added a decent coach. 

  On 30/06/2020 at 10:32, willmoy said:

I watched that game as well last week and they did not miss a doubtful Free. My opinion on Rowell. Just wants to be a bit careful he doesn't end up Cats Paul Newman....

Paul Chapman or Sam Newman? 

Edited June 30, 20204 yr by Ethan Tremblay

They may be tested this week vs the Cats. 

It will be an interesting game to watch.  Scott has said they will tag Rowell.  Fully expect Dew and teammates to give him a lot of protection.

What I'm interested in is how Dew sets up his game plan for slow-as-treacle aging cats players.  Would expect he won't let them go slow and chip the ball around like we did.  Will likely tell his players to play on from the mark/free kick at every opportunity.  And to play 'shoulder-to-shoulder' when Cats have the ball especially in GCS fwd half, then run and zone off as soon as GCS get the ball.

Edited June 30, 20204 yr by Lucifer's Hero

  On 30/06/2020 at 10:38, Wiseblood said:

This is it for me.  No doubt they have improved since last year, but they've had arguably the easiest run out of any team so far in the comp.  We will see their true improvement when they face a few real tests in the coming weeks.

From what has all been said this is the one that probably counts the most. Greenwood Ellis are average players at best. They maybe great leaders who knows but this marked improvement has to start getting some attention at some stage. Time will tell as to whether it is true. 

Apparently Rowell was a Suns academy player since he was 12 years old. The Suns were never going to let him slip under their fingers by finishing higher up the ladder. 

  On 30/06/2020 at 11:00, CYB said:

From what has all been said this is the one that probably counts the most. Greenwood Ellis are average players at best. They maybe great leaders who knows but this marked improvement has to start getting some attention at some stage. Time will tell as to whether it is true. 

Apparently Rowell was a Suns academy player since he was 12 years old. The Suns were never going to let him slip under their fingers by finishing higher up the ladder. 

Rowell was born and bred in suburban Melbourne.  Never connected to the Suns. 
 

The AFL gifted Anderson to the Suns in one of the greatest signs of favouritism. 
 

Agree. Test will be how they play against teams “on the road”

I can't stand the whinge of a team "passing us".

Did we pass everyone except West Coast and Collingwood in 2018? Yeah, we showed them!

Did Fremantle "pass" us last year? But now we've "passed" them?

Have we "passed" West Coast now?

I'm actually happy to see GC not be a rabble anymore. 

I dont think they are the real deal and doubt they would make finals in a normal season.  they have often started well and dropped off badly.

a young, competitive, decent side with a good coach.

It wouldn’t surprise me if the AFL gave a chat to the umpires dept this week and request the umpires to call play on more often for the cats 8-15m chipped kicks, which would both open up the game and shut down their system somewhat (and favour the Suns as well)

Sun's winning record in the first 5 rounds of the past few seasons is actually similarly pretty good. Since 2016 theyre 14-10 in the first 5 rounds and 8-60 in in the rest. Hope for their sake that this run last a little bit longer.

  On 30/06/2020 at 12:16, In Harmes Way said:

It wouldn’t surprise me if the AFL gave a chat to the umpires dept this week and request the umpires to call play on more often for the cats 8-15m chipped kicks, which would both open up the game and shut down their system somewhat (and favour the Suns as well)

A bit of thread creep, but I couldn't believe so many of those marks were allowed against us.  The kick practically went to a player 5m away from the man on the mark.  Fffing ridiculous.