GOLD Coast co-captain Tom Lynch won last year's best and fairest with more than double the votes of the third-placed Jack Martin, highlighting a lack of depth at the Suns.
If the JLT Community Series proves to be any guide, Gold Coast coach Rodney Eade might have solved that problem.
According to the Schick AFL Player Ratings, the Suns had five of the top-20 players throughout the pre-season competition.
• Schick AFL Player Ratings: Who are your club's leaders?
Unsurprisingly, Lynch was ranked third overall. His average score was boosted by a six-goal effort against the Western Bulldogs.
It's the names that follow that should have the Suns excited: Alex Sexton (seventh), Keegan Brooksby (eighth), Aaron Hall (14th) and Michael Barlow (20th).
Sexton established himself in the best team last season. Injuries in the midfield gave the 23-year-old a chance to show his wares and that he did, using his pace and long kicking to good effect.
He put in an excellent effort against Essendon last month to show he has improved yet again – 26 disposals, eight inside 50s, six clearances and two goals.
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Brooksby came to the club as a ruckman but has developed his defensive skills. He will likely be a back-up for May or fellow backman Rory Thompson.
Hall had good and bad moments last year, particularly when he was dropped for a stint in the NEAFL mid-season. However, his speed and ability to send the ball into attack make him a valuable contributor.
Former Docker Barlow was tipped to be an excellent addition to a developing Suns list, and the early signs indicate that is the case. Barlow, 29, has been one of the best runners at the club and he will use that trait to help out in defence. His big body at stoppages will help his more damaging teammates deliver the ball to Lynch and Peter Wright up forward.
Your team's top JLT Community Series performers based on Schick AFL Player Ratings
1. Mitch McGovern
2. Curtly Hampton
3. Josh Jenkins
McGovern and Jenkins should again be beneficiaries of opposition defences focusing on Taylor Walker, Tom Lynch and Eddie Betts. With the Crows crying out for midfield options, former Giant Curtly Hampton impressed as an onballer.
1. Dayne Zorko
2. Tom Bell
3. Eric Hipwood
It's unsurprising to see Zorko at the top of this list – he keeps on producing for the Lions. Hipwood established himself as a future star tall forward last year and should only get better.
1. Kade Simpson
2. Bryce Gibbs
3. Matthew Wright
Gibbs may not have been traded to Adelaide as he wanted but his professionalism can't be questioned after a strong pre-season. Simpson just keeps on delivering, chalking up 33 touches in the Blues' 43-point season opening loss to Richmond on Thursday night.
1. Jordan De Goey
2. Adam Treloar
3. Jack Crisp
Too bad Jordan De Goey will miss about the first third of the season – he was ranked 10th of all players in the pre-season.
1. Michael Hartley
2. Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti
3. Jobe Watson
The Bombers had Michael Hurley return to defence but it says a lot about Hartley that he was his side's best in the pre-season. McDonald-Tipungwuti looks a natural forward, while it looks like there's no need to be concerned about Watson's form.
1. Nat Fyfe
2. Aaron Sandilands
3. Stephen Hill
If the pre-season was any indication, Sandilands tapping it to Fyfe will once again become a common sight, after Dockers fans weren't able to witness it very much last year.
1. Patrick Dangerfield
2. Nakia Cockatoo
3. George Horlin-Smith
Hardly a shock that Dangerfield tops the list at the Cats. Cockatoo can really hurt the opposition whenever he has the footy while Horlin-Smith will be determined to nail down a spot in the senior side.
1. Tom Lynch
2. Alex Sexton
3. Keegan Brooksby
1. Heath Shaw
2. Callan Ward
3. Toby Greene
Shaw keeps on delivering, despite having turned 31 last year. The Giants have more talented midfielders than Ward, but not many are better players.
1. Luke Hodge
2. Ben McEvoy
3. Tom Mitchell
An auspicious start for Mitchell's Hawthorn career is tempered by the suspended Hodge topping the list for the Hawks. However, it's worth noting the former skipper played only one pre-season game.
1. Colin Garland
2. Christian Petracca
3. Clayton Oliver
After a subpar 2016, Garland looked set to respond but has had his year ruined by a knee reconstruction. On the plus side for Demons fans, Petracca and Oliver loom as two midfield bulls who could soon dominate the competition.
1. Shaun Atley
2. Kayne Turner
3. Nathan Hrovat
Former Western Bulldog Hrovat has proven an astute pick-up so far while Atley's run through the midfield should help what could have otherwise been a one-paced onball division.
1. Ollie Wines
2. Aaron Young
3. Brad Ebert
Wines was almost dropped last year but the vice-captain came back with a vengeance, racking up nine clearances in the final pre-season game against Hawthorn.
1. Jack Riewoldt
2. Shane Edwards
3. Dion Prestia
If Prestia doesn't suffer more knee troubles, he showed he can be a gun onballer – against Adelaide he had 21 disposals in limited game time, while in Thursday night's AFL season opener he stepped up further with 28 touches in an impressive Tiger debut. Edwards has shown his intent to bounce back from a down year.
1. Nick Riewoldt
2. Tom Hickey
3. Jack Steele
Hickey asserted his case for the No. 1 ruck spot over Billy Longer with a terrific performance versus Sydney. Former Giant Steele is set to make an instant impact after adding his big body and hard edge to the Saints' midfield.
1. Lance Franklin
2. Zak Jones
3. Jake Lloyd
Franklin was prominent despite having a shoulder reconstruction at the end of last season, but it was the continuing emergence of Jones and Lloyd that should have Swans fans optimistic their side can again push for a top-four berth.
1. Josh Kennedy
2. Jeremy McGovern
3. Shannon Hurn
Kennedy could be the first to complete a hat-trick of Coleman Medals since Gary Ablett Snr in 1993-95. Hauls of five goals against Fremantle and Melbourne showed the Eagles' co-vice captain is unlikely to slow down.
1. Luke Dahlhaus
2. Tom Liberatore
3. Jake Stringer
There was plenty of attention around Liberatore's off-season but he looks to have come back in good form, while powerful forward Stringer is too talented not to bounce back from a down year. Dahlhaus was the No.1 ranked player in the pre-season games.
Top 20 JLT Community Series performers based on Schick AFL Player Ratings
1. Luke Dahlhaus (Western Bulldogs)
2. Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong)
3. Tom Lynch (Gold Coast)
4. Heath Shaw (Greater Western Sydney)
5. Jack Riewoldt (Richmond)
6. Mitch McGovern (Adelaide)
7. Alex Sexton (Gold Coast)
8. Keegan Brooksby (Gold Coast)
9. Callan Ward (Greater Western Sydney)
10. Jordan De Goey (Collingwood)
11. Josh Kennedy (West Coast)
12. Jeremy McGovern (West Coast)
13. Shane Edwards (Richmond)
14. Aaron Hall (Gold Coast)
15. Toby Greene (Greater Western Sydney)
16. Colin Garland (Melbourne)
17. Ollie Wines (Port Adelaide)
18. Michael Hartley (Essendon)
19. Dayne Zorko (Brisbane Lions)
20. Michael Barlow (Gold Coast)
Want more?
• Schick AFL Player Ratings: Who are your club's leaders?
• Season previews: Every club's pass mark and predicted finish
