Gold Coast v Sydney: All the news, intel and key takeaways from AAMI Community Series pre-season match
Sydney and Gold Coast have been left sweating on the fitness of some of their stars after a host of injury scares in what could prove a costly pre-season clash.
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Sydney and Gold Coast will be sweating on the fitness of a host of stars after a brutal first quarter at People First Stadium ended with Errol Gulden, Mac Andrew and Charlie Ballard all ruled out due to injury.
The Swans’ 21-point Community Series victory was soured by a worrying ankle injury to Gulden, who is now in serious doubt for next Friday’s Opening Round clash with Hawthorn.
He was taken in a tackle by Suns midfielder Will Graham with his left ankle becoming trapped under his body and twisting at an awkward angle.
Gulden was immediately sent for scans with the Swans hoping to learn the extent of the injury before returning to Sydney on Saturday to prepare for the Hawks.
Sydney football boss Leon Cameron said the club expected to get the results of the scans within 24 hours.
Errol Gulden has been helped off the ground after this incident.#AFLSunsSwanspic.twitter.com/2T9n9h6spe
— AFL (@AFL) February 28, 2025
The last time Gulden missed a game was Round 13, 2021 – his debut season.
It was even worse news for the Suns, who lost both Andrew and Ballard in the opening stages.
Andrew lasted less than 30 seconds before leaving the field with chest soreness after a heavy collision with Swans midfielder Taylor Adams.
Ballard, who sat out the previous week’s practice matches against Brisbane and Collingwood, reinjured his right ankle soon after.
He briefly attempted to play on before the Suns pulled the pin.
Making matters worse, veteran David Swallow’s night also ended early after receiving a knock to the knee and midfielder Lachie Weller was arguably the hosts’ best player before exiting with hamstring tightness late in the third quarter.
After going relatively unscathed throughout the pre-season, the Suns now have some major headaches just six days out from hosting Essendon in their season opener.
POSITIONAL CHANGES
The Swans might be wondering why they did not try Tom McCartin in attack earlier after the key defender’s star turn inside 50 on Friday night.
The 25-year-old booted a game-high four goals and looked like the most dangerous key forward on the ground, albeit against a depleted Suns backline missing Andrew and Ballard.
A week after Joel Amartey booted six against the Giants, McCartin’s haul will excite the Swans who now look to have multiple tall targets in attack.
James Jordon impressed with 26 disposals and a fourth-quarter goal playing on-ball. He could prove an important player in Sydney’s midfield mix if Gulden is forced to miss a chunk of time.
Mac Andrew came from the ground following this contest.#AFLSunsSwanspic.twitter.com/RDcZ4ZoIwE
— AFL (@AFL) February 28, 2025
ROOKIE WATCH
Spare a thought for Suns’ SSP signing Ben Jepson who played three quarters in the VFL on Friday morning and was then asked to back up with another three quarters after the hosts’ starters began dropping like flies.
He and Suns Academy draftee Lachlan Gulbin both had quiet nights in their bids to stake a claim for an Opening Round spot. But the pair could both still end up debuting against the Bombers should the likes of Swallow and Weller miss through injury.
Mac Andrew’s brother, Riak Andrew, entered the fray for Sydney in the second half and looked lively with some strong intercept possessions - unfortunately only after the Suns’ man had left the field.
In the absence of Tom Papley, Sydney’s 2024 mid-season draftee Tom Hanily played a nice cameo kicking 1.1 from 13 disposals.
NEW RECRUITS
He was a little rusty by foot but Daniel Rioli immediately showed why the Suns were willing to give up a draft haul to prize the dashing defender out of Richmond.
In his first minutes of the pre-season the triple-premiership Tiger was among the Suns’ best, breaking lines and linking well with his new partner in crime John Noble.
Noble was not as flashy but the ex-Pie found plenty of the football and rarely wasted a disposal.
HOT TAKE
Gold Coast is a popular pick to make finals this season and internally the club believes it is ready to make the September leap.
But there had to be more than a few alarm bells ringing after this lacklustre showing against a heavily-depleted Sydney outfit.
Gulden’s exit mid-way through the first quarter meant the Swans were without he, Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner and Brodie Grundy through the middle for the majority of the contest.
The Suns did lose defensive cornerstones Andrew and Ballard early but it was still a disappointing showing on a night many expected them to flex their muscles.
Premierships are not won or lost in February but Damien Hardwick will expect a much more polished performance against Essendon next Saturday.
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Originally published as Gold Coast v Sydney: All the news, intel and key takeaways from AAMI Community Series pre-season match
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