Gold Coast v Geelong: five key factors
With the Suns and Cats both winless, Sunday’s clash at Heritage Bank Stadium was always going to be spicy. Sadly, much of that spice petered out in the first quarter, with turnovers galore from both teams leading to some rather difficult viewing. However, despite it taking three quarters, the Suns finally broke away to leave the Cats sitting 0-3 to start the year. It’s a win that can now drive the Suns forward to greener pastures after a disappointing fortnight. For the Cats, the dream of another flag this season may have run its course. Here are my five key factors from the contest.
- The Suns may lack polish, but they don’t lack heart
From the first bounce, it was evident that Gold Coast were playing to win. With players throwing their bodies on the line, running and carrying off the half-back line and, generally, demonstrating a will to win the contested ball. Yet, when it came to the crunch in the forward 50, errors threatened to keep Geelong in the contest, a game in which the Cats were clearly being outcompeted in across the board. Stewy Due seems to have a team of footballers who have the passion to be a competitive force in the competition, so it is time he turns his focus to proving up the skills side of the Suns’ game. It is the distinct point of separation between the Suns and fellow ‘newbie club’ GWS, who have managed to build a Ferrari-like engine room over the years, featuring the likes of Kelly, Whitfield and Coniglio who display supreme foot skills. If the Suns improve their disposal efficiency, today’s win over the reigning premier may be just the tip of the iceberg as to what they can achieve this season.
- Jack Lukosius has (finally) arrived
It may have taken a few years, but today Jack Lukosius turned his talents into a game of pure gold in a performance that Suns fans have been longing for. With five goals and a few huge clunks to boot, the forward-turned-defender-turned-forward grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and, dare I say it, was the point of difference in driving the Suns to victory. Deep into the last quarter, Lukosius launched a 65m bomb straight through the big sticks, sending the home crowd mad. His work rate throughout the game was fantastic, his second efforts equally commendable. Now, it’s over to Jack to produce a string of these performances together to prove his potential in the long run.
- The Cats’ back-to-back dream is over
I was tempted to say ‘all but over,’ with Geelong notorious for continually defying expectations but after today, I am confident that the Cats cannot win the flag this year. The flow in which Geelong brought to their game last year has been completely absent this season. It beggars the question: how big is the loss of Joel Selwood? As the new skipper, Patrick Dangerfield is now leading a side which is in disarray. The fast and furious football which tore sides apart last year is gone and so has the form of key players. Hawkins looks shot. Cam Guthrie is a shadow of his former self. Tyson Stengle has lacked spark. Selwood brought a sense of calm to the Cats – it is a sense of calm that is missing under Dangerfield’s captaincy.
- What’s going on with goal-kicking?
Round 3 started with an awful display of goal kicking from the Dogs and Lions but the Cats and Suns tried their best to go one worse. The scoreboard may not reflect an abnormal number of behinds for either team, but both sides shared a number of easy misses – in an era where players are now more comfortable to opt for the ‘snap kick’ over the traditional drop punt, goal-kicking standards are slipping. Momentum plays a huge role in AFL football and its critical teams convert simple set-shot opportunities when they present. Its time clubs revert back to the traditional drop punt style of kicking, which has and will always be the most reliable way to nail a goal.
- A wow for Rowell
Matt Rowell had an up and down 2022 season, but he has started year 2023 with a bang! He may not accrue the typical disposal count of a midfielder but his ability to continually get in and under the packs to clear the ball free for his side has been simply terrific. Against big-bodied midfielders including Dangerfield and Cam Guthrie, Rowell held his own – giving Noah Anderson and Touk Miller space to push the Suns forward off the wings. Although questions will remain about Rowell’s durability, his tenacity and willingness to attack the football at all costs played a pivotal role in the Suns’ maiden win for 2023.
