GOLD COAST 14.15 (99) d RICHMOND 9.6 (60)
Ben King.Credit score: AFL Images
KEY POINTS
A GREAT START: New Suns coach Damien Hardwick stated pre-match it was going to take time for his gamers to regulate to a brand new recreation plan, however when it labored, it was clear to all what this blueprint is. Simply ask any Tigers’ fan who lived via three flags through the Hardwick period. The Suns had been in a position to win at stoppage (one thing the Tigers admittedly struggled to do underneath Hardwick regardless of their dominance), then push the ball ahead by handball, earlier than kicking lengthy to a goal – specifically Ben King (5 targets). We additionally preferred the transfer of veteran David Swallow (16 disposals) to half-back. Hardwick stated time in ahead half, and forward-half turnovers, had been pivotal, and he would have preferred what he witnessed. A dominant first half was irresistible soccer, however a goalless third time period – when the Suns booted six straight – confirmed there’s work to do defensively. Nonetheless, they lastly form as a authentic finals menace. Or have we stated that earlier than?
TOUGH DEBUT FOR YZE: For brand spanking new Tigers coach Adem Yze, it was a baptism of fireplace. After Shai Bolton slotted via the primary purpose of the afternoon, the Suns responded with the following 11. Clearly, that’s not adequate. Midfielders Dion Prestia, Jacob Hopper and Tim Taranto had been crushed at this level by the likes of clearance beast Matt Rowell (33 touches, 20 clearances) and the silky Noah Anderson (25 touches, eight clearances), so it wasn’t essentially the backline’s fault. Yze desires his crew to be thrilling, and so they had been simply that within the third time period when the Suns had been held goalless, however the Tigers have to study to be dour and cease the bleeding at acceptable occasions. The Tigers are harmful when the ball is locked of their entrance half, and so they can construct a wall behind play. However they desperately want Tom Lynch again, the marking mixture of former defender Noah Balta and former Hawk Jacob Koschitzke shaky. Balta was despatched into the ruck within the last time period.
VETERAN TIGERS POISED FOR RETURN: Talking of Lynch, the Tigers now put together for a Thursday evening blockbuster in opposition to Carlton on the MCG. They’ll hope Lynch (foot), Toby Nankervis (plantar fasciitis) and Dustin Martin (calf situation) can return after they had been held out of this journey with the Blues match in thoughts. “They had been all shut – it (their absence) was across the five-day break. We simply must be sensible,” Yze stated.