In the latest instalment of Opposition Watch, Swans Media examines Gold Coast ahead of the Sydney Swans’ clash with the Suns at the SCG on Saturday afternoon.
Recent form
The Suns are placed 17th on the ladder with three wins and 10 losses pencilled in, and they fell to St Kilda in a four-point defeat in Townsville in their final match before last week’s bye.
They’ve lost nine games straight in the lead-up to the Swans clash and haven’t won since edging Carlton by two points in Round 4.
But star Sydney midfielder Isaac Heeney told reporters on Thursday he expected a “pretty tough” game, underlining their “contested” brand of footy and not their win-loss record.
Ins and outs
Gold Coast will welcome back from injury vice-captains Touk Miller and Pearce Hanley.
Miller (corked quad) missed the Suns’ last outing, while Hanley (corked quad) is set for his first match since Round 8.
Young Sun Brad Scheer has also been named for an AFL comeback on the back of rock-solid NEAFL form, while George Horlin-Smith, Callum Ah Chee and Nick Holman have made way.
Key match-up
Sydney’s Sam Reid (17 goals) and Gold Coast’s Peter Wright (16) have both proven dangerous in front of goal this season, but the key forwards can also offer depth in the ruck.
Although Swan Callum Sinclair and Sun Jarrod Witts both carry almost the entirety of the ruck load, Reid and Wright have pinch-hit at the stoppages in almost every game this season.
Will Reid or Wright assert more authority on the game?
Last time they met
Gold Coast had lost its last 11 games ahead of a trip to the SCG in Round 18 last season, but the Suns would quieten the home crowd after quarter-time on their way to a 24-point win.
The Swans led the away side by 29 points at the first change, before Gold Coast charged to 11 goals to Sydney’s two over the remainder of the match to pocket a 12.16 (88) to 8.16 (64) victory.
What they said
Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew: “It’s about us getting some momentum for the back half of the year and looking to bounce out of the bye. With our injection of a couple of players we’re looking forward to getting down to Sydney. The way we play is important to us, and also our method and where we improve. We see glimpses of it, but we’ve just got to stretch it out – both for ourselves and our supporters.”
