Suns AFLW: Five things we learned from Suns Round 2 win over Richmond
The Gold Coast Suns made an epic Metricon Stadium debut, downing the Richmond Tigers by 11 points. The Bulletin looks at five things we learned from the Suns Round 2 win over Richmond.
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The Gold Coast Suns made an epic Metricon Stadium debut, downing the Richmond Tigers by 11 points. The Bulletin looks at five things we learned from the Suns Round 2 win over Richmond.
THE 10 MOMENTS WHICH DEFINED SUNS VS RICHMOND
1. SPUD SEASON
Talk about taking the most of your opportunities. Three years ago, Kate Surman started playing QAFLW football with Maroochydore and forced her way into the Suns academy only a year later in 2018. Driving two and a half hours from her home on the Sunshine Coast to train with the academy, the 28-year-old went on to be named the player of the 2019 QW Winter Series. And on Saturday in her Metricon Stadium debut, Surman pulled it all together with the best performance of her two game career. Her stat sheet read two goals, 12 disposals and six tackles but what it didn’t show was her work rate around the ground and kicking efficiency to set up attacking chains.
2. TACKLING PRESSURE REAPS REWARD
With a further 74 tackles to add to their 80 in Round 1, the Suns have officially announced themselves as the AFLW’s best tackling team. Their pressure around the ball was immense and the Tigers struggled to cope. Run down tackles from Kate Surman, Leah Kaslar and Tiarna Ernst were all a highlight while midfielders Hannah Dunn and Jacqui Yorston led the stats sheet with totals of eight and seven respectively.
3. SKILLS PAY THE BILLS
Heavy rain meant the Suns didn’t get much chance to flaunt their run and gun game plan in Round 1 against the Giants, the Tigers instead falling victim to the clubs death by skill execution. The Suns played with dare, pulling off precision kicks into the corridor and opening up the field. Their overlap run was again a highlight as was their willingness to spread the play wide to their elite runners.
HISTORY MADE: EMPHATIC MAIDEN WIN FOR SUNS
4. FORWARDS HAPPY TO FORGO AERIAL BATTLE
While the Tigers dominated the air in their forward half, the Suns were more than happy to play their attacking game on the ground. Richmond took 12 inside 50 marks to the Suns three but the home side managed to kick three more goals than their opposition. Two of the Suns five goals came from balls clearing the marking pack while a third came via a holding the ball free kick. David Lake said after the game he believes the Suns haven’t yet unlocked all their goal kicking talents yet so be warned should the Suns start winning the aerial battle in their attacking arc.
5. SUNS LEADING THE EXPANSION PACK
Not only was the Suns 11 point win over Richmond their first in their AFLW history, but the Suns also became the first 2020 expansion side to win a game this season. With an exciting game plan and experienced players across the park, the Suns currently boast the best percentage out of their fellow newcomers with 132.3% and will be no easy beats this season.
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