All eyes of fantasy coaches are on the Gold Coast Suns to see who they pick for their debut game.
For those not familiar with this annual series of blog posts, they are intended as a guide to the players who are in consideration for the first game of the season for each team. This one is devoted to the Suns as they are so important, but the others come with four teams per post. Please note that the “iffy” and “waiting” lists are always four names long – thus some players are named who you would think are locks in the 21 just to fill out the numbers – and they are not listed in order of likelihood.
Gold Coast
FB: Campbell Brown, Karmichael Hunt, Michael Coad
HB: Nathan Krakouer, Nathan Bock, Jarrod Harbrow
C: Michael Rischitelli, Daniel Harris, Harley Bennell
HF: Danny Stanley, Jared Brennan, Brandon Matera
FF: Liam Patrick, Charlie Dixon, Alik Magin
Fol: Josh Fraser, David Swallow, Gary Ablett jnr
Int: Marc Lock, Dion Prestia, Joshua Toy
Sub: Jack Hutchins
Iffy: Hutchins, Lock, Prestia, Toy
Waiting: Sebastian Tape, Sam Iles, Trent McKenzie, Sam Day
You may look at this and say “what about…” or “you forgot…”, but I can assure that your favourite Sun is in the mix with at least half a dozen others of the same type at the same position, so none of their kids are locks at this stage.
Harbrow playing the last NAB game this weekend shuts off the spot in the 21 that Hutchins or Tape could have claimed. I think Coad is ahead of both of them due to his size and experience, at least to start with.
Those wanting to push someone out to fit their boy might target Patrick, and while it’s true that he doesn’t look to have the quality of some other kids not in this side, he has to play for structural reasons, because this list is titchy enough as it is without playing just one tall forward.
Despite Iles playing last week and on Sunday, I have chosen Lock, Prestia and Toy ahead of him because they have had more solid preseasons. You could make defendable cases for a half dozen others, of course. Some clarity in your statements to the media on selection in the next week or so would be helpful, Bluey!
Let me know whether you cheered or jeered when you saw the above list. Are all the Suns in your fantasy side in that 21? How confident are you that they will get picked every game for the crucial Suns run from rounds 2 to 8?
Also, don’t forget to check out Footy Utopia for preseason fantasy info and hijinks!
lewis
March 13, 2011 at 8:39 am
Gday monty, solid suns side but not all my suns are reflected. Thoughts on Zac smith rotating through with fraser rested forward. I would also feel more comfortable seeing weller listed in the mids.
kingsleyj
March 13, 2011 at 8:48 am
What about Josh Caddy Monty?
m0nty
March 13, 2011 at 8:48 am
Smith has a niggling injury, I don’t think they’ll risk him early.
We’ll know a lot more about the Suns R2 side from how they line up in today’s praccy.
m0nty
March 13, 2011 at 8:49 am
Caddy is in the mix with the rest of them kingsleyj, he hasn’t done anything special to distinguish himself from the hordes IMO.
lewis
March 13, 2011 at 9:06 am
Monty, mate what’s happening with the depth charts? Very useful tool that I guess is underated.
Suns have mass depth but concerned about fraser’s wonky knees and ability to solely carry the load. Perhaps gorringe?
woofta
March 13, 2011 at 9:17 am
No arguements on team selection.
Interesting to see 14 rookie priced players in the 22{plus the underpriced Fraser},add to that the waiters who will rotate in and out.The MN is in for a hammering.
m0nty
March 13, 2011 at 9:18 am
I reckon Smith, Gorringe and Nicholls will share the 22 games fairly evenly between them, lewis. I probably should have picked one of them on the bench but I couldn’t choose who to drop! 😛
Big Lance
March 13, 2011 at 9:27 am
Great post Monty, is Magin still rookie listed? And good to see you snuck Prestia in there. Mini Chappy looks too good to leave out but he wasn’t in the probable’s side a couple of weeks ago and he wasn’t named for this weekene either making it seem unlikely he will play rnd 2. Regardless he will be in my team cos he is my last chance at having a M/F link atm.
Also what’s the deal with Footy Utopia? I had never heard about it till yesterday but checked it out and the video was good.
Big Lance
March 13, 2011 at 9:35 am
Also, be interesting to see who plays out of Coad, Tape and Toy. While they are all different players they are in the mix for my team from GC defenders. I was liking Tape and Toy for SC but with all the questions i’m thinking of going no suns in defence and 6 spread through the other lines. I went Coad in DT but he is my least favourite of the bunch and i don’t know that he will make the cut into my final team. I haven’t given a lot of thought to Danny Stanley even though he plays more of a mid role than the other 3, based of this weekends game he could sneak into the lineup for the Def position.
Based on your comments on Liam Patrick it would seem reasonable that he could be the one to come out for the resting ruckman.
GB101
March 13, 2011 at 11:25 am
I think it’s missing one big man, I doubt Brennan will play CHF, it didn’t work at the Lions and it won’t work here either.
Either Day or one of those spare ruckman will be required to rotate through there.
Brennan will play, no doubt, but not at CHF.
rustyc
March 13, 2011 at 12:07 pm
Monty, can you elaborate on your statement “Despite Iles playing last week and on Sunday”?
Big Lance
March 13, 2011 at 1:32 pm
That means he played last week and i splaying this week(today against Brissy), is that what you meant?
LeFtBehinD
March 13, 2011 at 1:46 pm
I can’t believe Toy, who was talked about going no.1 over swallow if he was in this draft, could miss out. But that’s such a experienced backline, I can’t see him fitting in, unless he pushes to a wing.
lukesiena
March 13, 2011 at 1:49 pm
is iles playing today
lukesiena
March 13, 2011 at 1:56 pm
how has iles preseason been havent heard much has he been injured not sure if he is in there plans but dual best and fairest
Dcc09
March 13, 2011 at 3:18 pm
No, Iles isn’t playing today. Other fantasy relevant players not picked are Prestia (probably resting), Smith (must be one seriously bruised heel), McKenzie and Caddy.
rubitonurs
March 13, 2011 at 6:14 pm
definitely a ruckman short
fivestarmd
March 13, 2011 at 6:31 pm
I don’t think Matera will play Round 2.
He’s still too small and will get knocked around. Give him a few months in the seconds and he’ll be good to go
KKing18
March 13, 2011 at 6:50 pm
Pretty sure when asked who will kick Gold Coast’s first ever goal in Round 2, Guy McKenna nominated Trent McKenzie…
Judd005
March 13, 2011 at 10:40 pm
bloody hell! This makes me want to take a couple players out. Maybe ill just pick em up when their on the bubble, rather the assurance of guys playing the 1st 4 or 5 games atleast. Who knew it would be so hard to pick rooks coz all of them have something to offer. Bloody strong list in a few years.
m0nty
March 14, 2011 at 12:49 am
Coaches say a lot of things for a lot of different reasons, KKing18. Doesn’t mean all of them come true. Maybe he was just trying to give the boy some confidence.
Sh00ter
March 14, 2011 at 12:29 pm
Good effort mate.
Mike Hunt will take the third tall and Toy will be one of the preferred kick options out of defense if fit.
I reckon Iles will also play, he won their b&f last year and has had some match practice recently.
The Mole
March 14, 2011 at 1:34 pm
I’ve heard Seb Tape has been pretty impressive, I think he’s ahead of Coad and Hutchins.
Dicko
March 14, 2011 at 3:57 pm
Iles is injured. Says he might be right for round two but I doubt it.
Bennyy
March 17, 2011 at 4:00 pm
Suns cant pick Alik Magin, he is on the rookie list. So this would almost guarantee Prestia a game. And one missing out in that side gotta play