Gold Coast Suns will have pace to burn in 2020 AFL season

The Gold Coast Suns will have pace to burn in 2020. Gold Coast have put a big emphasis on increasing the speeds reached by the players on the field throughout the pre-season in a bid to match it with the best in the AFL.

THE Gold Coast Suns will have pace to burn in 2020.

Gold Coast have put a big emphasis on increasing the speeds reached by the players on the field throughout the pre-season in a bid to match it with the best in the AFL.

Data taken after Round 15 last year showed the Suns were ranked a credible seventh when it came to total distance covered at high speed (541.6km) but they were ranked 16th when it came to the amount of total sprints (2864) completed.

Premiers Richmond were ranked number one in both areas, with 579.9km covered at high speed and 3909 total sprints.

Gold Coast football manager Jon Haines said the previous pre-season had been spent improving the players’ aerobic capacity and strength before adding a new focus on speed this summer.

“The key part we noticed off the back of last year’s pre-season, which was a heavy running focus with a fairly significant increase in loads, is that the guys have been able to transition into this pre-season and adapt really well,” Haines said.

Lachie Weller of the Suns is tackled during the 2020 Marsh Community AFL Series match between the Gold Coast Suns and the Geelong Cats at Metricon Stadium on February 22, 2020 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

“We are pleased with the way the guys have improved.

“The program is always evolving we have taken the approach last year was year one of a multiple year program to physically prepare the players.

“Last year had a significant focus on building our aerobic capacity but also the general strength profile of the group.

“Both the aerobic and strength areas have an enormous amount of growth in front of them still so that has been continued.

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“We have also increased our speed exposure this pre-season as well.

“Overall, our running load has stayed about the same but there has been some more speed exposure.”

Haines said the diligence of the players who returned from the off-season in good shape paved the way for their ability to make inroads.

“We are pleased with the way the guys have presented,” Haines said.

“Their level of professionalism and understanding of being an athlete 24-7 is really strong now. We think the group is maturing in that sense.”