The Suns and the Eagles were coming into this game from very different perspectives. The Suns made the finals last season for the first time in the club’s, albeit short, history and won their first game of the season against last year’s Grand Finalists, Geelong. The Eagles were coming off one of their worst seasons, winning just a single game and finishing dead last, multiple games behind Richmond and North Melbourne.
That being said, there were plenty of stories coming into this game. Let’s take a look at the tales of the game.
Die Uberhund
After years of mediocrity, the AFL’s golden child, the Gold Coast Suns, is finally starting to deliver on their promise of making the finals. With a premiership coach and a new premiership-winning midfielder (and half decent chef) in Christian Petracca, the Suns might just be the new Uberhund, or Overdog in English, of the AFL.
The Suns will be without their reigning Brownlow Medallist Matt Rowell for the first month, but they have already established themselves as being very difficult to beat at their home stadium.
If the team can get their act together away from home, they will be a unit to be reckoned with. It’s not often that you get a team starting at $1.01 odds so early in the season, but the odds were undoubtedly in their favour and heavily justified after watching this game.
The Suns were very quick to prove that they deserved the status of close to unbackabke favourites, even if it was against a weak Eagles outfit. Christian Petracca was especially damaging, kicking three goals in the opening quarter, and finishing the game with four to his name, despite playing through the middle most of the game. Petracca was hardly alone in the dominant performance, with Ben King kicking five goals and Jarrad Witts racking up 50+ hit outs.
Early signs, given the first two rounds of the season, show that the Suns are not a team to be taken lightly in the coming season.
The Underdog
Last season, the Eagles won just one game. Despite the poor results, they are sticking by their second-year coach, Andrew McQualter, despite producing worse results than his predecessor, Adam Simpson. Their cause wasn’t helped by the fact that their captain and spearhead forward, Oscar Allen, left the club to head to the reigning premiers, the Brisbane Lions.
If this game was anything to go by, it could be another long season for the Eagles and their beleaguered fans. The Eagles did blood four new players in this game, with Milan Murdock the brightest of lights for the young Eagles, kicking two goals. Former number one draft pick and member of the Duursma sporting family, also had his moments as an Eagle, but didn’t have the explosive start to his career that Harley Reid had.
On top of these four debutants, the Eagles also had two players playing their first game in Eagles’ colours in former Lion Devon Robertson and former Tiger Tylar Young. While Robertson was incredible during the game, nailing 12 tackles, it didn’t help as the Suns were still able to tear through the Eagles’ weak defence. Meanwhile, Young had his hands full with the torrent of inside 50s from the Suns.
The Better King
Since joining the AFL, there has always been a debate over who got the better King. However, Ben King is seemingly attempting to put that competition to bed with a commanding performance against the Eagles. While his brother Max is struggling to get onto the park for St. Kilda, suffering through injuries, Ben is leading the Suns and leading the league with nine goals in two games.
When King isn’t scoring goals himself, he is also helping other teammates. King tirelessly led all day in the 50, which opened up the space for Christian Petracca to kick four goals himself, but Ben was also clean off the deck, using a few quick handballs to put his smaller forwards into space, leading to countless goals for the Suns during the game.
The only grain of salt is that he managed this feat against an Eagles side that rarely, if ever, threatened the Suns. He is the most economical forward in the competition, but was punished for that when the All-Australian team was selected last year. Maybe this season, he makes his claim undeniable?
Samson Reid
After last season, West Coast star Harley Reid decided to cut off a fair chunk of his signature blond locks. Missing his hair has seemingly left Reid’s output during the game well down. Reid had 23 possessions in the game, which led the Eagles, but he had only one moment when he could show off his signature strength, sitting Suns captain, Noah Anderson, on his backside as he bullied his way past him.
While Reid led the Eagles in possessions, multiple Suns had more possessions than him, and he really needs some support. So, in order to regain his power, Harley must make like the biblical story of Samson and regrow his hair to regain his power and return to his physical best. Probably wouldn’t hurt if a couple more Eagles players could help him out. Maybe they could grow their hair, as well.
Foot Firmly off the Gas
At half time, the Suns had scored 84 points and held the West Coast Eagles to just 22. While many would have expected the Suns to put the Eagles to the sword in the second half, the Suns instead took their foot off the gas pedal and held the Eagles at arm length for the rest of the game.
It was perhaps the one chink in the Suns otherwise flawless game. Instead of blowing the margin out to a potentially 15-goal or more margin, the Suns won by 59-points, a shade under their half time margin.
Kid Watch
Not as creepy as it sounds, I promise.
It is important to acknowledge where the Eagles are at, and that comes with a focus on the development of their kids. As for the Suns, they have a few new faces running around, as well.
Zeke Uwland – Started on the bench and played on the wing, with a head-to-head clash with Willem Duursma for a while. Didn’t have the est of games.
Willem Duursma – As stated, didn’t have a big impact, but did have a few nice touches. Will be better for the run.
Josh Lindsay – Solid off half-back and one of the few Eagles with a bit of composure
Bo Allan – Did a bit of everything, and without standing out, played a fair four-quarter game.
Hamish Davis – Played mostly on the wing and felt a bit of the heat in this game, impacting the quality of his disposals.
Ethan Read – Got his hands to plenty, but ended up with only three marks. Six or seven were left on the table.
Leo Lombard – Lively again, finishing with two goals, and loves to take the game on. Will be a Suns favourite.
Jobe Shanahan – Starved of opportunities, and had to contend with some big bodies in the Suns’ defence. He is going to take time, but the seeds of something good are apparent.
Jacob Newton – About what you’d expect from a 19-year-old small forward. Tough to get into the game, but you give him a pass, first up.
Archer Reid – Took a nice grab, but as happens to young forwards, was too easily bustled out of the contest. Some horrible forward 50 delivery did not help.
Cooper Duff-Tytler – Not a great day at the office for Duffman (ugh!). Used as a backup ruck, he did work hard without the footy, laying five tackles, which is a good indicator as to his work ethic.
What the future holds
The Suns have continued their dominant start to the season, and they currently sit in second place behind the Sydney Swans, both of whom have a percentage over 180. The Suns will face their first test on the road next week, facing off against a rebuilding Tigers side. The Suns will undoubtedly look to add another notch to their belt when they face off against coach, Dimma Hardwick’s old side. They’d hope that the Hawks can notch up an upset against the Swans to allow them to climb up to first spot on the ladder for the first time since Opening Round last year and the only time that they have been in top spot past the opening round.
For the Eagles, some relief will come in the shape of returning players. Tim Kelly, who recovered from his hamstring injury should return to the Eagles side. They will also regain their co-captain Liam Baker, who received a suspension in the last round of last season. The Eagles could also regain Jack Williams, Bailey Williams, Harry Edwards, and Harry Schoenberg from injuries and suspension respectively. The Eagles will host North Melbourne at Optus Stadium next Sunday.