AFL 2024: Why stopping Noah Anderson is the key to crippling Suns

Gold Coast’s humbling at the hands of Carlton exposed a fatal flaw in its makeup, one that one of their biggest stars must put to bed if they are going to play finals for the first time.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 25: Noah Anderson of the Suns kicks the ball under pressure from Oliver Hollands of the Blues (L) and Sam Walsh of the Blues during the round 11 AFL match between Carlton Blues and Gold Coast Suns at Marvel Stadium, on May 25, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Gold Coast’s humbling at the hands of Carlton on Saturday exposed a fatal flaw in its makeup that Damien Hardwick must find a way to address if his side is to play finals football this season.

The Suns set themselves for a season-defining showing against a quality side away from home and once again came up short.

The winless road record (now 0-5 away from Gold Coast and Darwin) is worrying but it is the manner in which they are being beaten that tells more of the story.

In their five defeats the Suns’ young midfield has been bullied by the opposition.

Patrick Cripps spearheaded Carlton’s midfield against the Suns on Saturday at Marvel Stadium. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Hardwick’s side is among the best clearance units in the competition but in losses this season the Suns are a combined -34 at stoppage and -18 out of the centre.

Saturday’s 29-point defeat to the Blues featured a lopsided 44-32 stoppage count – the largest discrepancy of the year.

“I thought their midfield beat ours. That’s what it came down to at the end of the day,” Hardwick said.

“We knew their strength was their midfield. We went up against it and we lowered our colours.

“Our mids have been pretty good. We expect better. They’re a proud group, we expect them to bounce, but the fact of the matter is I thought our midfield got beat by theirs.”

Only nine days earlier in Darwin both Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson enjoyed career-best outings against a half-strength Cats midfield. But the pair were soundly beaten by their Blues counterparts on Saturday.

After Rowell’s brilliant start to the season he appeared to be the main magnet to shut down. Josh Dunkley’s job on Rowell in Brisbane’s big QClash victory last month offered a blueprint to besting the Suns’ midfield bull.

Noah Anderson’s numbers are way down whenever the Suns lose. Pic: Michael Klein

But it’s Rowell’s partner in crime, Noah Anderson, who now looks like the man to nullify.

Anderson is enjoying an even better season than his Club Champion-winning 2023 campaign, but his numbers have fluctuated wildly.

The 23-year-old averages eight fewer disposals, half as many score involvements and almost half as many clearances in losses compared to wins.

Anderson is now undoubtedly the Suns’ midfield barometer and when his influence is limited, Hardwick’s side struggles to kick a winning score.

Gold Coast’s defeats this season have come against the Western Bulldogs, GWS, Sydney, Brisbane and Carlton – all sides with quality midfields.

In each of those losses the Suns’ on-ball brigade suffered stark drop offs in points from stoppages, contested possessions and clearances.

Noah Anderson - Midfield Barometer
Wins	Losses
Disposals	32.2	24.2
Contested Possessions	12.8	7.4
Clearances	7.5	4.4
Score Involvements	8.8	4.4

For Hardwick it must feel like a chicken or the egg scenario.

Are the Suns’ struggles a result of playing away from home, the midfield being beaten by a quality rival, or a mix of both?

He will get some of his questions answered on Sunday when number two-ranked Essendon comes to town.

For the first time since April 28 the Suns will play at People First Stadium, where they are a perfect 4-0 this season. Meanwhile, the Bombers are unbeaten since round 4 and rank as the fifth-best clearance differential side in the competition.

Sunday’s return home looms as the perfect litmus test for where the Suns’ season sits, ahead of a return trip to Melbourne to play St Kilda before the mid-season bye.