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
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs
