Deep dive special: Inside look at Gold Coast for 2020

Two-time premiership player Brandon Ellis knows what it takes to reach the ultimate success and Gold Coast’s prized recruit is optimistic he can achieve another flag with a Suns squad stocked with young talent.

Brandon Ellis is locked in for five years at Gold Coast but doesn’t believe he will need them all to help turn the Suns into an AFL force.

The Suns prized recruit and two-time Richmond premiership player has finished his first summer with his new team and as he prepares to launch into the 2020 premiership season, Ellis is bullish about what the reigning wooden spooners can do.

“We are really young as a list and there is so much top-end talent that really hasn’t been seen yet or reached their full potential,” Ellis said.

“Once we start getting some games into them and some games together each week the better we will be.

“That is what they have struggled with throughout their time in the AFL, having that continuity.

“People are continually getting up and leaving to go home or elsewhere.

“But we have signed around 25 of our young guns and they will be the future of this footy club.

“The next few years will be very exciting and promising.”

Ex-Tiger Brandon Ellis says the Suns have a bright future. Picture: Jerad Williams

The 26-year-old midfielder played 176 AFL games for the Tigers, winning the premiership in 2017 and 2019 before leaving the club he still loves as a free agent to join Gold Coast at the end of 2019.

Gold Coast won three games last season, equalling their lowest records from the club’s first two years in the AFL in 2011 and 2012.

But three of the losses came by five points or less as the club struggled with injury once again, namely to key defenders Rory Thompson (ACL) and Sam Collins (hip), leaving them undersized in front of their own goals.

Both will be back in 2020 with Gold Coast boasting a large list of 52 players, the majority of who are fit.

Among those working their way back from injury are midfielder Anthony Miles (pectoral), Izak Rankine (shoulder), Jarrod Witts (foot), Mitch Riordan (ACL), Charlie Ballard (shoulder) and Wil Powell (knee).

The added maturity of the group, addition of top draftees Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson, the addition of midfielder Hugh Greenwood, the impending re-signing of coach Stuart Dew until 2022 and expanded style of football the Suns are looking to play has Ellis believe the club will begin to change it’s fortunes on-field.

“When we start winning some games this will definitely be a destination club,” Ellis said.

“I was very lucky to play with Richmond for the last eight years and been pretty successful down there.

“What better way to come up here to a club that has been struggling the last couple of years to take them off the bottom and build something special.”

Matt Rowell was the top pick in last year’s draft. Picture: Jerad Williams

So what would be better for Ellis? Winning two flags with a powerhouse or taking a team from the bottom to the top of the ladder to win a premiership?

“Ask me that after we win a flag up here,” Ellis said.

Ellis is hoping to make a big impact on the Suns playing group but believes the development will be two-fold, with the added responsibility of being a leader to young players a potential catalyst to his own growth as a player.

“If you have that leadership role and young guys look up to you, it holds you to account and makes you want to be a better person and teammate,” Ellis said.

Ellis relished the best parts of playing for a successful club that has averaged around 60,000 spectators to each home game in the past three seasons while lifting trophies.

But with that has come added scrutiny and attention from the public and media and his move to Queensland has already had a positive affect on his mental wellbeing.

“Being in Melbourne my whole life I have seen the highs and lows of it,” Ellis said.

“You can’t go down the street there without getting asked for a photo.

“Up here you can be a normal human and be yourself without worrying about being harassed or hounded, especially over social media as well.

“There are so many trolls in Melbourne and social media is so bad for that. It’s inevitable and they will follow you everywhere but I just haven’t noticed any of that since moving here.

“I got away with it in my first five or six years but in the last couple it has been bad, I don’t know what it is with the trolls.

“I guess they have nothing better to do with their life.

“People would be lying if they said it didn’t take a toll, it does. That is the world we live in and you need to work out how to survive and get through it. It’s been so mentally refreshing having a fresh start here.”

THE LIST

In: Brandon Ellis, Hugh Greenwood, Zac Smith, Matthew Rowell, Noah Anderson, Jeremy Sharp, Sam Flanders, Jy Farrar, Luke Towey, Malcolm Rosas, Patrick Murtagh, Matthew Conroy (category A rookie), Connor Budarick (category A rookie).

Out: Michael Rischitelli (retired), Jack Leslie (delisted), Connor Nutting (delisted), Brad Scheer (delisted), Callum Ah Chee (Brisbane Lions), Tom Nicholls (retired), Aaron Young (delisted), Harrison Wigg (delisted), Brayden Crossley (delisted)

There is no doubt Gold Coast have strengthened its expanded list in 2020. The list and draft concessions provided by the AFL mean they have 52 players on the list, including Irishman Luke Towey and Papua New Guinea international academy player Hewago Paul Oea. Ellis and Greenwood are the marquee signings who will strengthen the midfield while top two picks Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson look set to make an immediate impact. Callum Ah Chee’s move to Brisbane was the biggest loss but they boast more depth across the board than they have in years.

BURNING QUESTION

Is this the year Peter Wright steps up to become the dominant key forward for Gold Coast or will Sam Day take on the role?

Wright started in the role last season but struggled with the added attention from defenders following Tom Lynch’s defection to Richmond.

He is one of Gold Coast’s best kicks for goal but once Sam Day hit his strides post-injury the club tried playing both alongside Ben King before Wright had multiple stints in the NEAFL.

OFF-CONTRACT

Anthony Miles, Brayden Fiorini, Connor Budarick, Corey Ellis, George Horlin-Smith, Jack Hombsch, Jacob Dawson, Jacob Heron, Jarrod Harbrow, Jesse Joyce, Josh Schoenfeld, Matthew Conroy, Mitch Riordan, Nick Holman, Patrick Murtagh, Pearce Hanley, Sam Fletcher, Sam Collins.

For the first time in years Gold Coast go into a season without a high profile player weighing up his future. Young guns Brayden Fiorini and Connor Budarick, mature key defender Sam Collins and seasoned halfback Jarrod Harbrow have to be the priorities for the club’s list management team while midfielder Anthony Miles and Jack Hombsch will still play an important role beyond 2020.

Will Brodie has played just 19 AFL games in three seasons. Picture: Sarah Reed

IT’S A BIG YEAR FOR

Will Brodie. The No.9 draft pick arrived at the end of 2016 with big hype surrounding him. Brodie is the modern midfielder prototype, tall (189cm) with a big frame (89kg), but he has managed just 19 AFL games in three seasons.

The contested ball bull has showed signs of great progression throughout the pre-season and will be looking to become a more consistent member of the Suns best 22.

PRE-SEASON HERO

It’s hard to narrow down the top performers over the summer with the Suns group showing a new level of maturity by turning up in shape after meticulously planned off-seasons.

Ben Ainsworth has been a star through the pre-season. the midfield-forward has got over injuries that have plagued him in recent years and is noticeably fitter because of it. Lachie Weller looks to have gone to another level as he prepares to spend more time in the midfield while leaders David Swallow and Touk Miller have been as professional as ever. Top draft pick Matt Rowell has already built the body needed to compete in the midfield while Anthony Miles was lifting big in the gym until hurting his pectoral.

THE BEST PLAYER YOU HAVE NEVER HEARD OF

Connor Budarick. The Suns rookie could have easily found his way on to Gold Coast’s senior list but was taken as a priority signing by the club before the draft.

The 177cm midfield-halfback captained Gold Coast’s academy team that won the academy series, played within the NAB League. Budarick was awarded the Hunter Harrison Medal for best academy player of the league and went on to be named in the under-18 All-Australian team after impressing at the AFL’s under-18 championships. Budarick held his own in both Gold Coast’s practice game against Brisbane and Marsh Community Series win over Geelong, playing off half-back for both games.

Originally published as Deep dive special: Inside look at Gold Coast for 2020