Charlie Ballard is the flag-bearer for players who would have a much greater profile if they played down south. In the first 11 rounds, Ballard plucked a league-leading 51 intercept marks, and was second for contested marks. His superb aerial judgement is usually matched by neat, creative ball use. He’s also courageous, often showing disregard for his own safety. He sits comfortably among the best rebounding half-backs in the league.
Who’s not
After an excellent debut season with the Suns last year, when he kicked 44.27, Mabior Chol has been far below that standard in 2023. To date, he’s got just 7.6 to his name from six games. He’s been dropped twice, raising questions about his work-rate and failure to consistently lead up for the ball or make a genuine contest. If the Suns are going to be competitive in the second half of the year, Chol is one player who needs to lift.
Brandon Ellis has never been less than an honest player in his 12-year career – it’s one of the qualities the Suns were searching for when they recruited him from Richmond at the end of 2019. So, the 29-year-old will know his six games in his fourth season for the Suns have been off the pace. He’s been below his career averages in all the key metrics and has struggled to impact games.
Now in his third year of AFL football, Elijah Hollands needs to get a move on. Drafted at pick seven in 2020, he broke through with some eye-catching performances late last year, including a 23-possession, two-goal effort against Hawthorn in round 21. But after playing the first four rounds of 2023, Hollands was omitted and only returned to the team in round 12. He has obvious talent, but the challenge for him and his coaches is to maximise it.
Coach’s box
Even before triple-premiership coach Damien Hardwick’s shock resignation from Richmond, Gold Coast Suns CEO Mark Evans wasn’t committing to Stuart Dew’s future at the Suns beyond 2023. Dew is contracted until the end of 2024, but that doesn’t count for much these days. Having set the controls for finals or bust, he doesn’t have a lot of wiggle room.
Regardless of whether Hardwick picks up the phone to take Evans’ call or not, and as much as Dew insists that he’s the man for the job, he will know his side has to go hell for leather from here if he’s to fulfil that contract.
The reality is the Suns haven’t finished higher than 12th under his leadership and currently sit 11th. Another triple premiership coach, Leigh Matthews, put it this way: it’s the numbers that will get you in the end.
The road ahead
Round 13 Bye
Round 14 v Carlton at the MCG
Round 15 v Hawthorn at Heritage Bank Stadium
Round 16 v Collingwood at Heritage Bank Stadium
Round 17 v Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval
Round 18 v St Kilda at Heritage Bank Stadium
Round 19 v Greater Western Sydney at Manuka Oval
Round 20 v Brisbane Lions at Heritage Bank Stadium
Round 21 v Adelaide at Adelaide Oval
Round 22 v Sydney Swans at the SCG
Round 23 v Carlton at Heritage Bank Stadium
Round 24 v North Melbourne at Blundstone Arena.
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