Thursday night back at Metricon Stadium serves as a massive test for the Western Bulldogs, as they take on the Gold Coast Suns.
Often when you hear the term ‘massive test’ and Gold Coast in the same sentence, it is often a sign of a team that is struggling or someone just seriously taking the piss. In this instance however, it is neither of the two.
The Gold Coast Suns have been somewhat of a feel-good tale of this year - and boy, didn’t we need one, given all the shit that is happening in the world right now. People might talk about how they have received a number of handouts from the AFL, but the truth of it is that they needed it. They have been a walking basketcase of a franchise for much of their time in the league.
Many were quick (me included) that their kids from the 2018 AFL Draft - Ben King, Jack Lukosius and Izak Rankine, would leave following their initial rookie contract. But credit has to go to Stuart Dew and the club in general. Dew for getting the kids to buy into the gameplan he has set for them and the club - from players, staff and others - for creating a culture that has actually enabled the likes of these kids to stay on board beyond this year.
It’s all of this a big reason why I have found myself watching many of their games this year. They looked rejuvenated, they look like they’re playing for each other more than ever. Yes, they’re young and they have been overrun at times this year, they have been a very exciting team to watch. Which makes this a big clash deserving of a Thursday night slot and one that both sides must win.
We know how good the likes of Jarrod Witts, David Swallow and Touk Miller are. We also know how good the youngsters such as Rankine, Ben King, Noah Anderson and others are. God damn it, I would've loved to see Matt Rowell line up tonight, but 2020 being 2020 has denied and robbed us all of that privilege.
Nonetheless here are six players that the Western Bulldogs will still have to look out for on Thursday night and these six individuals I feel, are being critically underrated in this Gold Coast team.
Hugh Greenwood
I’ve always been a big fan of Hugh Greenwood. Anyone that tackles hard and works his backside off for contested possessions gets a big thumbs up from me. So last year Adelaide traded away Greenwood for a third and fourth round pick, which I thought was a bit insulting to him. Just to gauge, Zak Jones went for Pick 32 (second round), Callum Ah Chee hasn’t played many games and went for a second-round pick and Lewis Taylor went for pick 48. Greenwood is not a world-beater by any means, but he’s a very critical piece that can fit into most teams.
So far in 2020, Greenwood has played every game and has averaged nearly 17 disposals per game - 12 of those are contested. He also averages a career-high eight tackles, 5.4 clearances, two inside 50s and two rebound 50s per game. Keep in mind that this in shortened quarters, eight tackles is something bloody special. Four of his last five games, he has recorded over 10 tackles. His last five weeks read: 12, 12, 11, 8 and 13. The Dogs must be prepared to face the pressure that the Suns bring to the contest.
Sam Collins
If you’re reading this and asking who Sam Collins is, then go on Youtube and have a look at some of his highlights. After being delisted by Fremantle at the end of 2017, Collins went back to Werribee to continue to ply his trade and was rewarded for a big year with a spot on Gold Coast’s list via a pre-draft selection. He made his debut round one last year and played every game up to round nine, playing a big role in defence in the absence of Rory Thompson.
After the loss to Port Adelaide, a hip injury ruled Collins out for the rest of the season, and you could tell they missed him a fair bit. The defensive structures were thrown out of whack a little and by the second half of the season, they were losing games by very heavy margins again. Collins is a very underrated player - he often beats his man in a one-on-one, he can read the play very well and come in with an intercept mark when called upon, and he can provide run and drive out of defensive 50. He’s been a very handy pickup for them.
Darcy Macpherson
I often wonder how my fellow Bulldogs supporters feel about this one. Macpherson is the son of Footscray player Stephen, who played predominantly in the 1980s and for the first half of the 90s and forged a good career of 188 games. Darcy was eligible to be taken by the Bulldogs under the Father/Son rule in the 2015 AFL Draft, but the Dogs passed on him and the Suns picked him up in the Rookie Draft. It’s a tough one, but given that Macpherson plays as a midfielder, it would’ve been hard for him to get a gig in a Bulldogs’ midfield that was at the time, quite stacked with talent.
But all the same, I’m glad he’s getting a run elsewhere, because he’s very tough little player and always puts in 110 percent. After a few seasons of him being in and out of the team, Macpherson broke out as a best 22 player in the 2019 season. He played every game and averaged numbers that read: 18.7 disposals, 4.1 marks, 6.1 tackles and 2.7 inside 50s per game. He has also played every game so far in 2020, and whilst the numbers don’t read as strongly as last year’s, he still brings grunt and aggression that have made the Suns a dangerous team this season.
Charlie Ballard
I watched Charlie Ballard play a couple of pre-season games in 2019 and whilst his ability to read the play was strong, his disposal and decision making was horrendous to say the least. Fast forward to the end of the season and Ballard looked a much different player, his intercepting ability got stronger and his disposal use improved tenfold, making him a very important piece in Gold Coast’s back six. Last year he averaged 13 disposals, 5.3 marks and 3.3 rebound 50s per game and played all but one game for the Suns.
This year, he’s averaging numbers that are thereabouts again this year and is once again proving his worth as a third tall: 11 disposals, 5.2 marks and 2.8 rebound 50s per game with shortened quarters this year. Also very strange to see that he was taken in the third round of the 2017 AFL Draft (Pick 42 overall). If we were to do a re-draft of this year, he would arguably be a first-round pick this time around. He’s an athletic player that has improved so drastically over time and will continue to get better in the years to come.
Sam Day
I love Ben King. He’s the future spearhead of this team - he leads well, he’s a great mark and an exceptional kick for goal. However, Sam Day is providing almost the perfect foil for King up forward and should be someone not to underestimate. An inaugural Sun, Day’s career has had more than his share of injuries. Since his debut in 2011, he’s only had three seasons where he’s played 20 games or more. So far in 2020, he’s played every game and has averaged a goal per game playing both as a key forward and a pinch-hitter to Jarrod Witts in the ruck.
Day’s versatility is a critical piece in this Gold Coast team. Whilst he doesn’t get the numbers on the stats sheet, he has played a number of roles throughout his career and has been very stout in any position he has been put in. Under Rodney Eade, he played primarily as a key defender and he has thrived in that role. But right now, there’s no disputing that his best footy is as a key forward, and over the past few years in particular, he’s piecing together a very fine season as one of the more veteran heads in this Gold Coast team.
Brandon Ellis
There will be plenty of people seeing this and scoffing at the thought of Brandon Ellis being an underrated player. A lot of people saw his signing to the Gold Coast on a pretty decent contract and thought he was only in it for a nice payday, because he certainly wasn’t going to get it at Richmond. But the truth is, he’s actually quite an important veteran head in this team. Not many players on the Gold Coast list today know what it’s like to be a part of a winning culture. Jarrod Harbrow has played in a few Preliminary Finals sides at the Western Bulldogs and Jarrod Witts whilst, he didn’t play any Finals games himself, played a part of a Collingwood team that featured in Finals.
Ellis is averaging 19 disposals, 4.6 marks, 2.5 tackles and 2.3 inside 50s per game across six matches this year. This might not jump out of the page the way someone like Matt Rowell’s stats might, but he is almost the perfect player to recruit and bring to the club. Ellis is a two-time premiership player and has played in a Richmond team that knows what it takes to get to the promised land. His experience is invaluable to the younger brigade of Suns coming through the ranks. He doesn’t need to play a starring role, only just needs to do his part in helping the kids continue to blossom, and so far, I think he’s doing a bloody good job of it.
Comments