Round one: Adelaide v Gold Coast
Saturday, March 31 at 4:15pm (SA time)
Metricon Stadium
Out of action
Trent McKenzie (knee) - 1-3 weeks
Rory Thompson (adductor) - 1-2 weeks
Nathan Bock (suspension) - Round three
Danny Stanley (club suspension) - Round three
Tom Nicholls (match conditioning) - 1-4 weeks
Recent form
NAB Cup, round 4: Sydney Swans 0.14.19 (103) d Gold Coast 0.13.6 (84)
NAB Cup, round 3: Greater Western Sydney 0.11.10 (76) d Gold Coast 1.8.6 (63)
NAB Cup, round 2: Geelong 1.16.13 (118) d Gold Coast 1.8.12 (69)
NAB Cup, round 1: Gold Coast 0.4.2 (26) d Melbourne 0.3.5 (23)
NAB Cup, round 1: Brisbane Lions 0.2.6 (18) d Gold Coast 0.2.4 (16)
Recent form against Adelaide
Round 22, 2011 - Adelaide 18.17 (125) d Gold Coast 9.10 (64), at Metricon Stadium
Round eight, 2011 - Adelaide 20.10 (130) d Gold Coast 9.19 (73), at AAMI Stadium
The team
B: Jarrod Harbrow Matthew Warnock Seb Tape
HB: Jared Brennan Steven May Jeremy Taylor
C: Michael Rischitelli Gary Ablett Harley Bennell
HF: Josh Caddy Tom J Lynch Luke Russell
F: Campbell Brown Daniel Gorringe Aaron Hall
FOLL: Zac Smith Karmichael Hunt David Swallow
INT: Tom Hickey, Sam Iles, Dion Prestia, Brandon Matera
In the most recent match between these two teams in round 22 last season, Crows reigning best and fairest winner Scott Thompson amassed an AFL record 51 disposals. Thompson’s possession tally against the Suns was only two shy of the all-time VFL/AFL record set by former Carlton star Greg Williams in 1989.
Skipper Gary Ablett polled three Brownlow Medal votes in the Suns’ 57-point loss to Adelaide in round eight last season. Ablett was unstoppable in the first quarter, kicking three of his team’s first four goals. He finished the game with 41 possessions, 13 clearances, eight inside 50ms, eight tackles and four goals in a remarkable solo effort. Ablett followed up with another 39 touches and nine tackles against the Crows in round 22.
Crows big man Sam Jacobs averaged 40 hit-outs in two games against the developing Gold Coast ruck division last year.
Adelaide piled on nine goals in the first quarter of the round 22 clash with the Suns. Kurt Tippett and Taylor Walker proved a handful for the inexperienced Gold Coast defence, combining for eight goals.
News bites (Click on a headline to read the full story)
Gold Coast Suns Season Preview - AFL.com.au
“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…”
‘A’ for effort - AFL.com.au
“Adelaide's stunning pre-season culminated in the NAB Cup premiership, and Michael Rischitelli described the Crows as quick, skilful and well-drilled. He added Gold Coast had plenty of homework to do on their opponents this week…”
“The Gold Coast Suns are poised to blood two debutants in Saturday afternoon's season opener against Adelaide at Metricon Stadium. The shock move comes after the Suns had made it clear debutants will be few and far between this year as they look to develop team cohesion after a debut year where players were blooded on a weekly basis. It can be revealed Tasmanian forward Aaron Hall will play and coaching staff are considering handing Queensland junior Alex Sexton a jersey.”
“In two full NAB Cup games this year, Hunt more than doubled his 2011 possessions, from 8.3 a game to 18. He showed promising signs with his ability to win the ball and handball it to more skilled teammates.”
