2019 in a Nutshell.
A season that started so promisingly, the Suns were three and one after four rounds, ended disastrously with 18 consecutive losses and the wooden spoon. To be fair, they were competitive until the bye but the back half of the season was nothing short of abysmal.
2020 Playing List
1. Pearce Hanley, 2. Anthony Miles, 3. Jack Bowes, 4. Brandon Ellis, 5. Jarrod Harbrow, 6. Alex Sexton, 7. Will Brodie, 8. Byaden Fiorini, 9. Ben Ainsworth, 10. Charlie Ballard, 11. Touk Miller, 12. Sam Day, 13. Jack Lukosius, 14. Lachie Weller, 15. Noah Anderson, 16. Rory Thompson, 17. Corey Ellis, 18. Matthew Rowell, 19. Josh Corbett, 20. Jack Hombsch, 21. Hugh Greenwood, 22. Izak Rankine, 23. Sean Lemmens, 24. David Swallow, 25. Sam Collins, 26. Sam Flanders, 27. Wil Powell, 28. Jarrod Witts, 29. Chris Burgess, 30. Peter Wright, 31. Jordan Murdoch, 32. Zac Smith, 33. George Horlin-Smith, 34. Ben King, 35. Connor Budarick, 36. Josh Schoenfeld, 37. Jeremy Sharp, 38. Jesse Joyce, 39. Nick Holman, 40. Jacob Heron, 41. Malcolm Rosas, 42. Patrick Murtagh, 43. Jez McLennan, 44. Darcy MacPherson, 45. Jacob Dawson, 46. Caleb Graham, 47. Sam Fletcher, 48. Matthew Conroy, 49. Mitch Riordan, 50. Jy Farrar, 52. Luke Towey.
INS: Anthony Miles (Richmond), Corey Ellis (Richmond), Hugh Greenwood (Adelaide), Matthew Rowell (Oakleigh Chargers), Noah Anderson (Oakleigh Chargers), Sam Flanders (Gippsland Power), Jeremy Sharp (East Fremantle), Jy Farrar (Adelaide SANFL), Connor Budarick (Gold Coast NEAFL), Matt Conroy (Gold Coast NEAFL).
OUTS: Michael Rischitelli, Jack Leslie, Connor Nutting, Brad Scheer, Callum Ah Chee, Tom Nicholls, Aaron Young, Harrison Wigg, Brayden Crossley, Jack Martin.
2020 Fixture
| Sat Mar 21 7.25pm | Rd 1 | Port Adelaide | H | Metricon |
| Sun Mar 29 1.10pm | Rd 2 | Geelong | A | GMHBA |
| Sun Apr 5 4.40pm | Rd 3 | Sydney | H | Metricon |
| Sat Apr 11 4.35pm | Rd 4 | Fremantle | A | OS |
| Sat Apr 18 1.10pm | Rd 5 | Melbourne | H | Metricon |
| Sun Apr 26 1.10pm | Rd 6 | GWS | A | UNSWC |
| Sat May 2 1.45pm | Rd 7 | Adelaide | H | Metricon |
| Sat May 9 1.45pm | Rd 8 | Bulldogs | A | Mars |
| Sat May 16 2.10pm | Rd 9 | West Coast | H | Metricon |
| Sat May 23 7.25pm | Rd 10 | Brisbane | A | Gabba |
| Sun May 31 1.10pm | Rd 11 | Essendon | A | MS |
| Sat Jun 6 4.35pm | Rd 12 | Hawthorn | H | Metricon |
| Sat Jun 13 4.35pm | Rd 13 | St Kilda | H | TIO |
| Rd 14 | BYE | |||
| Sat Jun 27 1.45pm | Rd 15 | Melbourne | A | MCG |
| Sun Jul 5 1.10pm | Rd 16 | Carlton | H | Metricon |
| Sun July 12 1.10pm | Rd 17 | Port Adelaide | A | AO |
| Sat Jul 18 2.10pm | Rd 18 | Richmond | H | Metricon |
| Sat Jul 25 2.10pm | Rd 19 | North Melbourne | A | BA |
| Sun Aug 2 4.40pm | Rd 20 | Fremantle | H | Metricon |
| Sat Aug 8 7.25pm | Rd 21 | Sydney | A | MCG |
| Sat Aug 15 7.25 | Rd 22 | Brisbane | H | Metricon |
| TBC | Rd 23 | Collingwood | A | MCG |
Five Fearless Predictions
A Gold Coast One-Two in the Rising Star.
As a result of low finishes, and last year’s priority pick, the Suns have stockpiled a number of young guns on the Gold Coast. With Izak Rankine fit and firing after an injury riddled 2019 campaign and last years Number One Pick Matthew Rowell AFL ready, the scene is set for the two team mates to battle it out for this years Rising Star Award.
Touk Miller will drive Dayne Zorko batty again.
Most interest in the Q-Clash in recent times, outside of Gold Coast and Brisbane, has been the budding rivalry between Touk Miller and Dayne Zorko. The 24-year-old Miller has been able to get under the Brisbane skipper’s skin a number of times and will be looking to do so again when the sides meet again in Rounds 10 & 22.
Young Talent Time.
Over the last five seasons the Suns have been able to bring in five players taken within the first 30 picks in the draft. While we are expecting that this level of inexperience will see some inconsistency in form, we are also predicting this amount of talent will click a few times too. We aren’t bold enough to nominate the game but be prepared for the Suns to claim a big scalp at some stage during the season.
Trio to combine for 100 goals.
Alex Sexton, Peter Wright and Ben King will prove a dangerous forward triumvirate for opposition backlines to contend with. The prospect of King having another season opposed the third best defender must be an exciting one for coach Stuart Dew. With Sexton in his prime years, and Wright set to join him, these forwards could be in for a big year.
The Suns will be better.
Ok, given last season’s results, this is not a big call but we honestly believe the Suns are set for a much better year in 2020. The off-season period saw them add some considerable experience to their young list which, given their record in tight games last year, will be helpful in big moments. Just how far this will take them is still to be seen but they will be better.
Where will they finish?
As much as the Suns will be better in 2020 than they were 12 months earlier, it will still be a difficult season for the club and their fans. They are wooden spoon favourites and it is hard to see them rising out of the bottom four teams. Gold Coast will finish in the bottom three.