Gold Coast Suns defender Lachie Weller could be out for the season with an ACL injury
Gold Coast Suns’ 2-0 Territory road trip has been soured by the likely season-ending knee injury to a key defender.
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GOLD Coast’s time in the Darwin sun has been soured by a potential season-ending injury to star defender Lachie Weller at TIO Stadium.
It was two wins from two in the Top End for coach Stuart Dew and his men, but their thoughts and concerns will now be with the status of their defender.
Weller was having a game to remember, racking up 20 disposals and seven inside 50s, before he awkwardly fell to the ground in the final quarter.
Sprawled on the ground, he clutched for his knee and punched the turf, indicating the injury was serious.
Those concerns were further confirmed at the post-match press conference where Dew said the injury could be a ruptured ACL.
“That’s what the fear is, that’s what it looked like,” Dew said.
“We still have to find out for sure, but it doesn’t look good and we’re going to miss him, he’s in the form of his career.
“It doesn’t look good when they’re in open space and then try and change direction, so our thoughts are with him and we will wrap our arms around him.”
Dew also batted away questions about his contract: “That’s the last thing on my mind at the moment.”
Meanwhile, Kangaroos coach David Noble said he had no injury concerns with star recruit Jason Horne-Francis who hobbled off late in the game.
“I haven’t had an update but there were certainly no concerns on the bench,” Noble told reporters post-match.
Noble said his team were too often competitive “for a bit” – primarily in the first quarter – but failed to respond after the Suns turned a 17-point deficit into a 32-point lead by half time.
North were also smashed in inside 50s - 81-36 – the Suns’ highest number in the club’s history, and the largest differential for the season, and contested possessions by 26.
“Teams shouldn’t underestimate what the Suns are doing at the moment,” Noble said.
“They’re playing really well.
“We can do it for a bit, but it’s just not good enough.
“That’s the game, teams challenge you, you’ve got to be able to respond.
“The lack of response when a team challenges at the moment (is poor).”
Gold Coast smash North Melbourne by 62 points
GOLD Coast has continued to cement Darwin’s TIO Stadium as its new home away from home after a match-defining, seven-goal second term while handing North Melbourne its 10th successive loss.
Completing a 2-0 Territory road trip, after blasting Hawthorn off Marrara’s premier surface last Saturday night by 67 points, the Suns came alive in the second quarter, piling on 7.7 to zilch from 28 inside 50s to five.
The Suns would go on to win the inside 50 count 81-36 – its highest total in club history and the biggest differential for the season – as the home team won by 62 points, 15.19 109 to 7.5 47.
Earlier, with the temperature almost breaching 32 degrees by the first bounce, and in Suns captain Touk Miller’s 150th match, it was a scrappy opening 10 minutes with neither side able to move the ball with any precision.
However, a towering grab and goal from Todd Goldstein broke the impasse nearly 15 minutes into the first quarter, as he and Hugh Greenwood emerged as keys to the Roos’ mini assault in front of 5523 people.
Despite a brilliant Matt Rowell snap, who was also busy with eight touches, the Roos scored majors on the back of strong defensive pressure in its forward line.
However, the Suns’ multi-pronged forward line suddenly snapped into action via its fleet footed forwards – Wil Powell, Malcolm Rosas Jr and Izak Rankine in particular – as ruckman Jarrod Witts matched Goldstein’s ability to dish off second effort possessions.
North at least showed some fight in the third when it looked like the Suns would kick well clear; Territory product Joel Jeffrey clunked a terrific pack mark while Rosas Jr unleashed a burst of pace to find Sam Day on the lead.
A brilliant solo effort from Jason Horne-Francis, dancing around a Suns defender to slot his first and Jed Anderson’s clever snap, gave the travelling Roos fans something to remember from a largely forgettable night, as the Suns put the foot down again in the final term.
Miller full strength
Playing in his 150th game, Suns captain Touk Miller was everywhere in the first half with 19 touches.
The 26-year-old gave NT fans plenty of possession of substance to applaud, with 12 in an utterly dominant second term.
Miller might be lobbying the league for more games in Darwin based on his BOG performance.
The only place to fly at TIO Stadium
If you were a supporter at Marrara on Saturday, the place to be in the first half was up the airport end, with 11 of 12 goals scored in that direction.
After a listless opening term, the Suns exploded with seven in the second as Wil Powell pounced on a spillage to get boot to a mid-air ball to extend the Suns’ lead to 17 points.
Then Territory product Rosas Jr provided the smoothest one handed pick and goal you’re likely to see this season.
Battle of the rucks
Last week against Hawthorn it was the Jarrod Witts Show in the ruck.
However, the league’s leading tap man had a little more competition against North’s Tristan Xerri and Todd Goldstein, who had the upper hand early in the piece with a combined 11 hit outs.
However, Witts rediscovered his touch in a decisive second quarter, collecting 10 all on his own to feed his hungry midfield.
SUNS 1.4, 8.11, 11.13, 15.19 (109)
KANGAROOS 4.3, 4.3, 7.3, 7.5 (47)
BEST Suns: Miller, Witts, Budarick, Rowell, Swallow, Anderson, Weller, Davies.
Kangaroos: Davies-Uniacke, Simpkin, Anderson, Thomas, Horne-Francis, McDonald, Greenwood.
GOALS Suns: Day, Rankine 2, Rowell, Powell, Rosas Jr, Ellis, Chol, Holman, Swallow, Jeffrey, Ainsworth, Davies, Graham.
Kangaroos: Goldstein, Ziebell, Davies-Uniacke, Simpkin, Larkey, Horne-Francis, Anderson.
UMPIRES Haussen, Rosebury, Glouftsis.
INJURIES Suns: Weller (knee). Kangaroos: McKay (concussion).
CROWD 5523 at TIO Stadium
Jed Anderson to play in front of all of his immediate family for the first time
LOCAL history will be made this Saturday at TIO Stadium when Territory product Jed Anderson runs onto the field for North Melbourne against Gold Coast Suns for his 90th match at the elite level.
The round 12 match will be the first time the 28-year-old has played an AFL game in the NT, and his immediate family – including mum Libby, sisters J’Noemi and Jasmine, who was on the Adelaide Crows list, and brother and former Carlton player Joe – gathering together to watch him live.
He will also be joined by his wife Nicky and three kids, Elijah, Jasiah and Katerinah – who will run onto the ground with him – making it an extra special experience for the Darwin Buffaloes export.
“It’ll be an unbelievable experience for them,” the midfielder told the NT News.
“It is very exciting.
“Mum was saying that the other day, I didn’t realise that we haven’t all been together to watch (before).
“I can’t wait. The Northern Territory is home, there’s always that pull to come back and be with the family.”
Fortunately, Anderson has struck form just in time for the NT trip, shaking off a mild hamstring strain he suffered in round four against the Bulldogs in the VFL, to play the last four games at the highest level while averaging 21 disposals per match.
“I’m on the up now which is good,” he said.
“I’m ready to go ... I don’t see any reason why I won’t be playing, touch wood.
“I wanted to be right for it ... It’s been a long time since I played up there.”
And Anderson is likely to end up repaying the favour in coming years, with 17-year-old J’Noemi carving out her own path in women’s football.
After playing with St Mary’s during the 2021-22 NTFL Women’s Premier League season, and with Sandringham Dragons while studying at Melbourne Girls Grammar this year, J’Noemi has been touted as an AFLW draft fancy.
“She’s going very well ... making her own name in women’s footy,” he said.
Anderson has provided handy counsel for his sister, having gone through the draft experience a decade ago before he was selected by a pre-threepeat Hawthorn.
“Just relax and enjoy your time playing footy,” Anderson said of his advice to his sister.
“She got a bit nervous in the lead up worrying about expectation and everyone’s perception.
“I just said just go out there and play your natural way. If a club wants you, a club wants you.”
Meanwhile, it will be an emotional homecoming for Anderson where he started his senior footy career at 15 with Darwin Buffaloes.
Anderson has also hinted at possibly playing for Buffaloes down the track after his AFL career wraps up.
“My grandfather Jimmy was a Buffaloes legend ... to put my link into the footy club is something I’ll cherish,” he said.
“Hopefully one day I’ll play again (with Buffaloes) when my career at AFL level (finishes).
“That would be the plan.
“With my two boys growing up, hopefully (I’ll) play a game with them.”
Meanwhile, J’Noemi told the NT News it would be “very special” to watch Jed play in front of his seven siblings.
“It’s very hard to get all of us together for times like this,” she said.
“I don’t think we’ve been able to watch one of his games live all together as a family before.”
Bush dreams of AFLW match in the Territory
FORMER Darwin Buffaloes star Ashanti Bush is hoping Gold Coast brings an AFLW game to the Top End as part of its ongoing partnership.
Bush, who was selected as pick No.8 in the 2021 AFLW draft, is in Darwin alongside the Suns’ men’s squad, which is playing consecutive games at TIO Stadium.
And her hopes are that next time she visits home as part of a Gold Coast trip it will be to play in an AFLW match.
The young star made her top-level debut in a win over West Coast and featured in two more games over the 2022 season.
“I’m hoping they bring an AFLW game up here, it would be pretty good if they could,” Bush said.
“I was pretty nervous (making my debut), I just told myself to play hard, play like I’m back in the NT.
“I wish I had played more games, but three games was pretty good.
“I made a goal for myself to get more goals next season.”
Being selected by the Suns capped a stellar couple of years for the Territorian who was named best on ground in Arnhem Crows’ premiership, featured with the Allies and played with the Hawthorn VFLW squad.
She also played a pivotal role in the Darwin Buffettes’ push towards the 2020-21 NTFL final.
Now back in Darwin, she has had the chance to show her own culture to her teammates and coaches from the Gold Coast.
That included a trip to her own community of Beswick to meet family and do activities.
“It was pretty good getting back to Darwin, the girls loved it,” Bush said.
“I showed them a bit of my culture, how I grew up here and how it’s different to the Gold Coast.
“It’s great to get out to the communities.
“It was good to be back home, there was a bit of time I was homesick.
“I was missing home, a bit of everything, hunting, fishing and just being with family.”
‘Hotter the better’: Dew open to more games in the NT
GOLD Coast Suns coach Stuart Dew is open to playing multiple games in the Territory each season.
At TIO Stadium on Wednesday, the two-time premiership player said his charges had embraced the Territory experience and its connection to the community was almost as important as banking two wins during its Top End campaign.
The Suns opened their NT operation with a 67-point win over Hawthorn as local products Malcolm Rosas Jr and Joel Jeffrey contributed four goals between them.
When asked if the Suns were open to playing additional games per season, or keep it at the existing level of one, Dew said he was confident those conversations were being had in football boardrooms.
The Suns are playing two games this year in Darwin to make up for a cancelled game in 2021.
“Between the Suns, the AFL and AFLNT I’m sure they’ll be pushing for some more games,” Dew said.
“And if that’s the way it pans out, I’m sure we’ll be OK.
“We’ve enjoyed this little two-game patch.”
Dew was also pleased to see the temperature set for 30 plus degrees on Saturday again, with the Suns taking on the 17th-placed North Melbourne at TIO.
“The hotter the better as far as we’re concerned,” he said.
“The conditions were warm (against Hawthorn), they’ve going to be even hotter (this Saturday).
“We train in it, we’re used to it.
“The surface is fantastic (too), the conditions were great (on Saturday night).”
Dew also had no issues with the size of the crowd against Hawthorn with just over 7500 attending the round 11 clash.
“Hopefully on the back of Saturday night ... those that came will come again,” he said.
“And those that missed out will hear about it and come on Saturday.
“It’s clearly part of the fabric in the Northern Territory and we look forward to a big pro-Gold Coast crowd on Saturday afternoon.”
However, he said any talk of playing finals was “a little bit negligent”, with the Suns currently a win outside the eight and North Melbourne, a bye, Adelaide, and Port Adelaide to follow.
“We’re definitely not looking it as an easy run,” he said.
“Anyone can beat anyone.
“Clearly everyone’s aim is to play finals. But sitting at the halfway mark of the year ... talking about finals is a little bit negligent.
“We’ll just keep our focus on what’s in front of us in the short term, it’ll take care of itself.”
He did admit he had never felt more confident about the Suns’s chances during his reign – noting the squad’s maturity – while remarking Territorians Malcolm Rosas Jr and Joel Jeffrey had impressive nights on Saturday against Hawthorn.
“They’ll be excited, it’ll be a good challenge for them to back it up,” he said.
He also said his own contract talks were “happily last” on the club’s agenda.
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