Five takeaways from Gold Coast Suns in-house match simulation

Season ending injuries, the new look forward and backlines and the man who was a cut above the rest. The Suns have conducted the most detailed match simulation of the preseason as they prepare for next week’s first hitout against a rival club and we have listed five key takaways from the game.

THE Suns have conducted the most detailed match simulation of the preseason as they prepare for next week’s first hitout against a rival club.

Players took part in four quarters of 20 minutes at Metricon Stadium on Thursday as coach Stuart Dew begins the task of finding his best 22 for the 2019 AFL season.

With many position battles going on across all areas of the ground, we reveal our top five takeaways from the game.

1. REST FOR THE BEST: Their peers sweated it out while trying to catch the eye of the match committee but for five of Gold Coast’s players, it was a non-event.

Ruckman Jarrod Witts, defenders Rory Thompson, Pearce Hanley and Jesse Joyce and midfield recruit Anthony Miles were all rested for the game.

Club officials said none of the group were injured and it’s understood they will take part in next week’s scratch match against Brisbane.

Rory Thompson was among a group of players who were rested for the interclub match. Picture: Alix Sweeney

Reading between the lines, the five appear to have all but sewn up their spot in the best 22.

They have all been regulars in recent years when fit but Miles’ exclusion is of particular interest given he only arrived from Richmond at the end of last year through the trade period.

It’s the best indication yet the midfielder has done enough to earn the opportunity he came to Queensland for.

HOW NICHOLLS PLANS TO END AFL ABSENCE

SUNS FOUNDATION MEMBER SET TO PLAY AFLW

WHAT’S NEXT IN SUNS AFLW PLANS

2. KEY MATCH UPS

The match ups between key position players at either end of the ground made for intriguing viewing as Gold Coast search for Tom Lynch and Steven May’s replacements.

Experienced forwards Peter Wright and Sam Day were on opposing sides, indicating the defenders marking them were the frontrunners to partner Thompson at the back.

Gold Coast Suns recruit Jack Hombsch. Picture: Supplied.

State-league recruit and former Fremantle player Sam Collins marked Wright between the forward’s stints in the ruck while ex-Port Adelaide defender Jack Hombsch took on Day.

Top 10 draft pick and key defender Ben King battled it out against fellow draftee and key forward Jack Lukosius while Chris Burgess partnered Day in front of goal.

3. INJURIES

Defender Harrison Wigg will miss the 2019 AFL season after rupturing the ACL in his right knee during the game.

Wigg fell to the ground and was able to walk off unasissted but got confirmation of the extent of the injury within hours.

Meanwhile, Josh Corbett has impressed his teammates and coaches since arriving at the Suns from VFL club Werribee but the key forward failed to take part in the match due to a knee injury.

Corbett was putting pressure on the key forwards and was in line to sneak a starting role but his setback has come at a costly time.

Gold Coast Suns player Josh Corbett missed the interclub game due to a knee injury. Picture: Glenn Hampson

The extent of the injury is unknown at this stage and whether Corbett will be fit to play against Brisbane next week.

Suns wingman Josh Schoenfeld also missed the game due to an ankle injury that has forced him in to a moon boot.

GET FULL DIGITAL ACCESS FOR 50C A DAY

4. STANDOUT PERFORMANCE

Callum Ah Chee was a cut above the rest and a clear best on ground.

The forward had clean hands while others around him fumbled, his movement and decision making was fast and fluid and his disposals were as accurate as any.

Ah Chee moved between forward and the midfield and even spent a little bit of time at the back where he helped at AFL level in 2018 while others were injured.

Callum Ah Chee looks poised for a strong 2019 season. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images.

It’s a great sign for the forward who had an interrupted start to his 2018 campaign.

Ah Chee broke the metacarpal bone in his left hand on the last day of preseason leading in to the 2017 Christmas break while attempting to gather a ground ball.

Ah Chee then tore his left hamstring in January last year while making a tackle at training, ruling him out of the JLT Community Series and early stages of the AFL season.

5. STUCK IN THE MIDDLE

The two midfield groups looked evenly split to get a nice balance for what was fairly competitive football while Tom Nicholls had every chance to put pressure on preffered ruckman Jarrod Witts.

Suns ruckman Tom Nicholls Picture: Alix Sweeney

Nicholls spent the most time at ruck, taking on Brayden Crossley and Sam Day who shared the load for the opposing team.

With Witts being rested, it will be interesting to see if Dew plays Nicholls against Brisbane.