Suns in the Media - Part I

[Sunny_]

Ha! I stand corrected.

 

[Sunny_]

Interesting comment from Gaz in a Suns article today.

"We want these boys to take risks and we know the result sometimes is going to be turnovers," Ablett said.

"I think it's important the more risks these boys do take, the more we're going to improve down the track.

I hope that doesn't backfire.

 

[SUNS]

besides in cairns

I think we wore our away strip in Cairns?

 

[exile]

oh, whoops. so we did haha.

 

[SUNS]

Yep, so we are still shit in white

Maybe rd 4 we will get our first win in our clash guernsey

 

[exile]

browny doing a bit of pre-game meditation!
(from gaz's twitter)

 

[Sunny_]

Suns rising after Swans loss.

THERE were a few more smiles at Gold Coast's beach recovery session on Monday morning after Saturday's narrow loss to the Sydney Swans in Blacktown.

After an indifferent NAB Cup campaign that included defeats against an understrength Geelong and fledgling GWS in the past fortnight, the Suns bounced back at the weekend.

They were level with the Swans midway through the final term before conceding some late goals to lose by 19 points.

Teenage ruck/forward Daniel Gorringe was one of the standouts, kicking three goals, and said the Suns had a long, hard look at themselves after the previous two matches.

"We were pretty disappointed about our efforts," he said.

"We took note of how poorly we performed the two weeks before this game. We made a real effort to turn things around and get some form before the start of the season.

"We made a real effort to get after it."

Gorringe may have helped coach Guy McKenna solve his forward line dilemma ahead of the round one clash against NAB Cup premiers Adelaide, with an eye-catching performance against the Swans.

Used mostly in the ruck in his seven appearances last year, the 200cm, 88kg Gorringe showed he could go forward, take a mark and kick goals.

With vice-captain Nathan Bock suspended for the first two matches of the premiership season, and Sam Day still making his way back to full fitness from a knee injury, McKenna is searching for a stable forward combination.

"Growing up, I played forward but haven't had a lot of time to play forward here, being more preferred in the ruck and a few other positions, but to go forward is something I really enjoy," Gorringe said.

"There's so many ruckmen here, you have to try and do something that's going to make you different to the others, whether that's going forward or going back - you've got to try and add something to your game that makes you different."

Another boost for the Suns at the weekend came with the form of their reserves, who had a resounding win over the Brisbane Lions on Saturday.

The match saw clever small forward Brandon Matera complete his first hit-out of the year and come through unscathed.

 

[supernova_]

good reporting checking his stats

88kg about 18 months ago!!

and as we've all seen over this summer how he has bulked up, he has to be in the 95-100kg range now surely?

Anyway, I like the comment about the competetive nature within the club in that Gorringe wants to improve and add more strings to his bow! Great stuff.

 

[gotassieboys]

good reporting checking his stats

88kg about 18 months ago!!

and as we've all seen over this summer how he has bulked up, he has to be in the 95-100kg range now surely?

Anyway, I like the comment about the competetive nature within the club in that Gorringe wants to improve and add more strings to his bow! Great stuff.

This is a good example of why supporters have to be patient (and sometimes forgiving!!)with a group of players who in the majority sit in the 18-21 year old bracket.

Imagine another 2-3 seasons (and pre-seasons) for all the boys on the GCS list.

Unfortunately only time will allow body strength/weight and game exposure to be where we need it to be, so we can be really a force.

It is going to be a up and down season due to this, but as long as they show some improvement and most of all true desire, then we should not be too diasappointed with the win/loss ratio.

Gorringe is certainly a big unit!!!

 

[Sunny_]

Imagine my shock when I turn over to read the back of the Courier Mail. I'm expecting to find something rugby related, or cricket related, but find a huge headline about the Suns! Front page sports news in QLD! Amazing.

Some 'exclusive' that Hamo got about Bluey. Of course, after reading it, it wasn't really a scoop at all. Just trying to fire up something that we all knew.

Pretty much saying how Bluey is not assured a re-appointment at the end of this year since the list is so young. Somehow Paul Roos got brought into the mix too, despite the fact that Travis Auld has never spoken to him.

Suns chief executive Travis Auld last night dispelled the view "Bluey" McKenna's reappointment would be a formality given the youth of the Suns' playing list by revealing he would be judged against benchmarks decided by the board over the first half of the season.

Roos has been linked to the Suns in recent days but Auld insists he has not spoken to the former Sydney coach or discussed him at board level.

The 2005 premiership-winning coach has stated publicly he is unsure of his desire to return to coaching. However, should the board decide McKenna is not the man to take the club further Roos would clearly be the first port of call.

Auld said the board had begun establishing the performance measures McKenna would be judged against and would not rush its decision.

"We have just begun our review, we have a board that is pretty process-driven, our chairman doesn't get caught up in the emotion of footy," he said.

"We will need some games to come and go to demonstrate there has been some progress made against those KPIs (key performance indicators)."

The Suns suffered some heavy defeats in their debut season with 10 of their losses being by margins of 10 goals or more.

Although the board expects the margins of the club's losses to decrease significantly, McKenna has been promised his future would not be decided by one big loss.

"We have spoken about this, we can't judge ourselves week to week," Auld said.

"Knee-jerk reactions will hurt us."

Auld said he was not surprised to hear Roos had been linked to the Suns because he was the logical frontrunner for any senior coaching position that became vacant and McKenna and GWS coach Kevin Sheedy were the only senior coaches off contract at the end of the season.

"I certainly haven't had any talks with him and it hasn't been discussed at board level," he said.

"Given our process could run for a few months there will be speculation but we can't let that sidetrack us.

"There is really no rush for us."

Roos-coached sides have a reputation for being tough to score against and always fighting to the finish - attributes the Suns must develop.

Auld has admitted to being an admirer of the culture Roos implemented at the Swans and has already recruited his retired premiership captain Brett Kirk to the Suns to work with players.

Auld said McKenna had comfortably passed the performance benchmarks set for him in his first year and had excelled at engaging the community and building the fan base.

"We were really pleased after year one, based on a whole range of factors," he said.

 

[Fat Pizza]

I hope the team does well enough in 2012 for Bluey to secure his job again, but if they do replace him, I'd be rapt to have Roos. The more Fitzroy people in the Suns, the better. Scott Clayton & Ken Hinkley have made a good start.

 

[SUNS]

Mav Weller has learned his lesson

An interesting article about TG regarding his drama in Thailand and how it has helped him grow.

 

[SandyToes]

Imagine my shock when I turn over to read the back of the Courier Mail. I'm expecting to find something rugby related, or cricket related, but find a huge headline about the Suns! Front page sports news in QLD! Amazing.

Some 'exclusive' that Hamo got about Bluey. Of course, after reading it, it wasn't really a scoop at all. Just trying to fire up something that we all knew.

Pretty much saying how Bluey is not assured a re-appointment at the end of this year since the list is so young. Somehow Paul Roos got brought into the mix too, despite the fact that Travis Auld has never spoken to him.

I wonder if they've been trawling Big Footy??

LOL

We discussed Blueys performance renewal clause a week or so back and mentioned Roos and Malthouse I think?

 

[Sunny_]

Wouldn't be a new event, Sandy.

There's a huge lift-out in today's Courier Mail about the upcoming AFL season, featuring articles from Ablett, Hunt and a few others about the Suns and Lions. I'll try and post them all up later today. Suns relevant ones, anyway.

EDIT:

Ups and downs and a keen eye to the future. - Article by Hunt.

Superstars in the making. - Article about Sexton.

Four-quarter effort will help Suns rise. - Article by Ablett.

 

[supernova_]

http://goldcoastfc.com.au/news-and-media/official-club-mobile-app/

Suns get a mobile app! For Android and Apple users.

Just searching and downloading it now, will update post to let you know

 

[Thermo]

Decent little app. Shame there isn't an iPad version but maybe that is still in the works. Good to be able to watch the Suns TV from a mobile device, the quality seemed excellent.

 

[WrongUn]

Roos after Suns' young gun Swallow
Nick Smart **|**03:15am March 24, 2012

NORTH Melbourne are set to launch a poaching raid on the Gold Coast Suns with future superstar David Swallow their No.1 target.

Swallow, 19, is contracted to the end of next year but the Suns will try to lock him into a long-term deal by the season's end.

The teenager recently told the Bulletin he was happy on the Coast and open to the idea of penning a long extension with the Suns.

However, he also admitted there was a "temptation" to join his brother Andrew at the Kangaroos, the team he supported growing up. Andrew Swallow, who has just been appointed captain of North Melbourne, said he planned to get in David's ear about making the move.

"I'd love him to come -- the aim would be to get him down," Andrew said. "We'll just have to see and you never know what will happen.

"He seems pretty settled up there at the moment.

"I'm not going anywhere so it is up to him now and I'll have to start putting a bit more pressure on him."

David Swallow will have plenty of suitors at the end of next year if he holds out on signing until then.

Teammate Campbell Brown has publicly declared he will win a Brownlow Medal. He is not the only one to have made that prediction.

The Suns were rapt with Swallow's first AFL season after taking him as the No.1 draft pick in the 2010 national draft.

The midfielder reaffirmed the view he will be at least a very good player and brother Andrew shares the sentiment.

"Playing in the Gold Coast midfield as an 18-year-old in his first year, I thought he did really well," Andrew said.

"With that sort of development and the way he is going, I think he will be a really good player.

"It is always hard to tell how good he is going to be but all the signs are that he is going to have a really successful career."

The Suns youngster has done a fine job of handling the weight of expectation that has come his way.

Andrew, 24, keeps in close contact with him as he continues to develop in what is a tough environment.

"He has a really good head on his shoulders and we just chat to see how he is going," Andrew said.

"I offer him a bit of advice every now and then but I don't know if he takes any of it on.

"I talk to him about where I think he can improve.

"He got off to a pretty slow start with his pre-season but his last couple of games have been really good.

 

[TheSunGod]

Tell 'em they're dreaming!

 

[Sunny_]

Oh God. Watch the North supporters erupt. I think some of them honestly think he's going down. Mind boggling.

Sooner he signs that extension the better. If nothing else than to just calm the North fans down.

 

[supernova_]

Hope he doesnt do a buckley! One of the best youngsters in the game.

 

[Sunny_]

Based on everything he's said so far, including what he said just recently about being happy at the Suns and open to penning a long term extension, I am not worried about our Swallow junior at all. Of course there is a temptation to play with his brother. Just as it would be tempting to return home to WA. But really, come on.

Normally (as in the case of Bennell or Caddy), I would be about 50/50 sure of retaining them, or 80/20 in the case of Bennell. But Swallow I am dead set certain will be sticking around. The thought of him going hasn't crossed my mind at all.

He's been up here for a couple of years now, which will be nearly four once his contract expires. I just hope no Suns fans would genuinely believe he would go. Despite Andrew always saying how it would be nice for him to come down, Dave has always said that while it would be nice to play with Andrew, and there is always the temptation, just like returning back to WA, he's settled on the Coast and is willing to sign an extension.

Like I said. Boggles the mind. Will be a 4-5 year deal done by this time next year.

 

[supernova_]

From a personal point of view, I know I love playing footy with my brother. That to me would be more important than moving back home if I was interstate.

But from a member and supporter perspective, NOOOOOOOOOO. Sign a god damn 10 year deal 7-8 million should cover it and make it back ended? Break records.

Future captain after Gaz in 5 or so years.

 

[Sunny_]

Not that this confirms anything, but this is from the guy that wrote the article and interviewed Andrew.

BigFooty SUNS ‏
@NickSmart85 Does anyone honestly think he'll go? He'll be the Captain after Gaz!

Nick Smart
@BigFootySUNS No. But you can't blame them for trying. I expect Suns to re-sign him by season's end

He's got a point. You can't blame them for trying, but it just won't happen. If after speaking to David and Andrew, one thinks he's re-signing by season's end, you gotta take that on board at least.

 

[WrongUn]

You can't say it won't happen, blood is thicker than water after all.

We can say we hope it doesn't happen and that the $$$ we have to offer compared to North, and hopefully our newly established winning culture by mid way through next season, plus giving him the vice captaincy to succeed Gaz, plus the continued bonds formed with team mates will be enough to keep Swallow at the Suns.

 

[WrongUn]

By Michael Whiting
6:03 AM Sun 25 Mar, 2012

Suns keen not to coast

Draw assessment
Gold Coast will feature prominently in twilight matches this season, playing 11 - including five at home - in the mid-afternoon timeslot. The Suns have a favourable early-season draw, playing just two of its first nine matches against finalists from last season. They cover the country with trips to Perth, Darwin and Cairns among the away trips.

Pivotal match
All eyes will be on Manuka Oval in round seven when the Suns play fellow expansion team Greater Western Sydney. A loss would have the wolves at the door of out-of-contract coach Guy McKenna, so Gold Coast will be intent to put the new boys in their place.

Injury list
Aside from Trent McKenzie (knee) and Rory Thompson (adductor), the Suns will have a near full-strength list to pick from for round one. Brandon Matera and Sam Day have had interrupted pre-seasons but played the club's last reserves match, while Josh Caddy also has valuable match-time under his belt after a disjointed past few months.

Track specialist
While a number of their teammates hit the gym to gain weight, Dion Prestia and Karmichael Hunt went the other way and reaped the dividends. Both men have shed kilos and enjoyed bigger roles in the middle of the ground during the pre-season. Half-forward Luke Russell was also a standout on the training track.

Dream Team special
Josh Caddy ($249,300) missed most of last year through injury but showed enough in two games to suggest he can star this season. Does his best work in tight, wins his own ball, can take a grab and goes forward and kicks goals so should rise quickly in value. Aaron Hall is a steal at $98,700.

Draftee watch
Aaron Hall showed in his NAB Cup debut against Melbourne and the Brisbane Lions that he could add the zip to the Suns' forward line they craved last season. Hall is fast, can take a mark and has shown a willingness to defend without the ball.

Needs a big year
Charlie Dixon started last season like a house on fire, but quickly fizzled out. He competes hard but has suspect hands and has been leap-frogged by a number of teammates in the big-man pecking order. Has spent time rucking in the pre-season and has plenty to offer, but needs to make an impact or risk sitting on the sidelines.

Best and fairest tip
You'd be a brave person to tip anybody other than Ablett to make it back-to-back best and fairests. The captain was head and shoulders above his teammates last year and shows no signs of slowing down. Bock will also go close and expect Swallow's continued development to put him right in the mix.

The Gold Coast will have a good year if…
… its younger players can run out games longer. Although still a couple of seasons away from complete physical maturity, the Suns need to sustain their efforts for a longer portion of the contest. Finding a regular goalkicker could also help.

The big issues
Will Guy McKenna's contract be extended? The Gold Coast board will decide McKenna's fate after his second season in charge. 'Bluey' will be judged on far more than the win-loss column.

Can the Suns retain Harley Bennell and Josh Caddy? The two top-10 draft picks both suffered from homesickness last year and will be interstate targets as the season wears on.

How quickly will the talls develop? The Suns have the nucleus of a brilliant midfield, but the improvement of young talls Tom Lynch, Sam Day, Steven May, Rory Thompson and Daniel Gorringe will be closely monitored.

Best 22
FB: Seb Tape, Matthew Warnock, Maverick Weller
HB: Jarrod Harbrow, Steven May, Jared Brennan
C: Trent McKenzie, Michael Rischitelli, Harley Bennell
HF: Campbell Brown, Tom Lynch, Luke Russell
FF: Brandon Matera, Nathan Bock, Sam Day
FOLL: Zac Smith, Gary Ablett, David Swallow
I/C: Dion Prestia, Josh Caddy, Karmichael Hunt
Sub: Aaron Hall

AFL.com.au predicted ladder finish: 17th