AFL Gold Coast Suns: Damien Hardwick on why Sam Collins is among ‘very best in the competition’

From delisted Docker to key defensive pillar, Sam Collins is finally earning the recognition he deserves after helping to transform Gold Coast’s back six.

Gold Coast vice-captain Sam Collins’ incredible professionalism has permeated the Suns’ back six and helped fast-track the development of his defensive partners in crime.

That is the word from coach Damien Hardwick, who has hailed his full back as one of the most professional and well-prepared players he has seen during his time in the game.

Collins has earned some much-deserved recognition this week after shutting out dangerous Essendon key forward Kyle Langford in last Sunday’s 11-point win over the Bombers.

The 29-year-old kept Langford goalless for just the fourth time in two seasons, adding to a growing list of scalps that include Harry McKay, Nick Larkey and Joe Daniher to name a few.

Collins rates as the No. 3 intercept key defender in the AFL this season averaging just shy of nine intercept possessions per game.

He had a game-high 11 intercepts against the Bombers.

Sam Collins held Essendon danger man Kyle Langford goalless in the Suns’ 11-point win over the Bombers last weekend. (Photo by Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“Collo is the sort of player you have a level of expectation of where he’s at (but) even as an outsider coming in I didn’t realise how good he was,” Hardwick said.

“He is an incredible player and exceptional leader.

“What we’re seeing with Mac start to (do) is lift his standards to that of Collo. Charlie Ballard is another doing incredibly well down there. We’re really pleased with how those three are progressing as a unit.”

Andrew has deservedly earned praise from across the AFL world due to his incredible form this season since returning to the side against GWS at Gather Round.

But Collins has played a major role in shaping the 201cm intercept defender from an uber-talented teenager into a professional AFL player.

The no-nonsense leader had a much different route to regular AFL minutes when compared to his fellow key defender.

Collins was delisted by Fremantle at the end of 2017 after 14 games in two seasons. The Suns gave him a lifeline when they added him as a mature age pre-draft selection in 2018.

Two years later he joined the leadership group and won the Suns’ Club Champion award. Last year he finished runner-up to Noah Anderson.

“(Collins is) just thoroughly prepared and he does it as good as anyone I’ve seen,” Hardwick said.

“It’s not luck that players become the very best in the competition, it’s because they prepare thoroughly and prepare well.

“I nearly died the first time I saw him warm up. He’s very much like Nick Riewoldt, he warms up for two-and-a-half hours before the game. I’m surprised he doesn’t run to the ground before he starts.

“There’s a reason he’s able to do those jobs (on key forwards). He has a good understanding of what their strengths are but more importantly where he can exploit or manage their weaknesses.”

Sam Collins is rarely beaten by his direct opponent and has taken some of the biggest jobs in footy this season. (Photo by Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

Gold Coast will look to end its worrying run of road defeats on Saturday night when it plays St Kilda at Marvel Stadium.

The Suns will again be without co-captain Jarrod Witts who also missed the Essendon clash with a hamstring complaint.

Hardwick said the club chose to be cautious with its star ruck given the Suns had a bye after this weekend.

“It’s probably a conservative call but it’s the right one,” Hardwick said.

“He’s such an important player to us.

“Moyley (Ned Moyle) is playing well so let’s take the week and he’ll get the bye to freshen up and attack the second part of the season.”

Originally published as AFL Gold Coast Suns: Damien Hardwick on why Sam Collins is among ‘very best in the competition’