Gold Coast Suns 2018 AFL report card

IT’S hard to imagine but Gold Coast managed to go backwards this season, but they did it. We look at what needs to happen at the trade table, the draft strategy, season highlights, when you should book grand final tickets and more. in our 2018 report card.

IT’S hard to imagine but Gold Coast managed to go backwards this season.

The Suns finished 17th again but won four games, compared to six last year.

The mammoth road trip, spanning about 50,000km, which they embarked on when the Commonwealth Games booted them from their Carrara base, proved a hurdle too big to overcome.

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Stuart Dew’s high-pressure defensive strategy showed pro­mise but the players weren’t fit or strong enough to sustain it for four quarters.

Tom Lynch battled a knee injury before requesting a trade, while the club battles to convince Steven May to stay.

Trade table

LYNCH wants out and Aaron Hall could go with him, while Jesse Lonergan may have some value on the market.

Tom Lynch of the Suns has requested to be traded from Gold Coast. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images.

Potential targets include Richmond’s Anthony Miles, Sydney duo Nic Newman and Jake Lloyd, Western Bulldog Mitch Wallis, Collingwood’s Adam Oxley and Geelong’s George Horlin-Smith.

Draft strategy

THE Suns desperately need more A-grade midfielders, and any compensation pick potentially acquired in Tom Lynch’s exit could be used to get mat­ure-age players who can guide a young list.

Reformed WAFL star Marlon Pickett has been linked to the club.

2018 highlights

1. The Coast beating Sydney for the first time in the Suns’ history for the upset of the season. The Suns were down by 29 points at quarter-time in Round 18 at the SCG but turned it around to win by 24 points.

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2. Lynch kicking a club record eight goals against Carlton in Round 2.

3. The Round 5 derby win over Brisbane Lions at the Gabba. It was a game that took the rivalry between Dayne Zorko and Touk Miller to new levels and their dislike of each other will fuel the fire for many more QClash games.

Best-and-Fairest

Jarrod Harbrow (pictured) was the club champion, with Miller finishing second.

Harbrow, a foundation Sun, was among the best in all of Gold Coast’s 22 games.

His tough defensive work saved Gold Coast from conceding points even more frequently, while his run and carry took the Suns from the back to the front foot.

Next year’s goal

SIX to eight wins.

Some imp­rovement needs to come after one year under coach Stuart Dew, while some of the players who have been in the system for multiple years need to take a step forward too.

Stuart Dew has concluded his first year as senior coach of the Gold Coast Suns. Picture: Scott Barbour, Getty Images.

When should you book Grand Final tickets?

NOT until at least 2030.

The Suns are essentially starting again after eight years in the AFL. Making the eight won’t even happen for a long time.