When formulating this hypothetical team from Queensland for the AFL Preseason Challenge Cup, it was encouraging to see that the combined team wasn’t too bad, even though the Gold Coast Suns finished at the bottom of the ladder in 2019.
It’s merely a coincidence that the leadership group is made up of one player from each team that won their respective teams’ 2019 best and fairest. Lachie Neale is a player who leads by example, while Jarrod Witts is a player who has proven his leadership qualities during his time at the Gold Coast Suns.
Despite the fact that the Gold Coast Suns have been languishing at the bottom of the AFL ladder, they have 12 players compared to the Brisbane Lions that have ten players in the Queensland AFL Preseason Challenge Cup starting 22. Check out the team.
Coach: Stuart Dew (Gold Coast Suns)
B: Marcus Adams (Brisbane Lions), Harris Andrews (Brisbane Lions), Jarrod Harbrow (Gold Coast Suns)
HB: Daniel Rich (Brisbane Lions), Sam Collins (Gold Coast Suns), Pearce Hanley (Gold Coast Suns)
C: Hugh McCluggage (Brisbane Lions), Jarryd Lyons (Brisbane Lions), Brandon Ellis (Gold Coast Suns)
HF: Hugh Greenwood (Gold Coast Suns), Eric Hipwood (Brisbane Lions), Ben Ainsworth (Gold Coast Suns)
F: David Swallow (Gold Coast Suns), Jarrod Witts (co-captain – Gold Coast Suns), Charlie Cameron (Brisbane Lions)
FOLL: Zac Smith (Gold Coast Suns), Lachie Neale (co-captain – Brisbane Lions), Lachie Weller (Gold Coast Suns)
I/C: Alex Witherden (Brisbane Lions), Dayne Zorko (Brisbane Lions), Darcy Macpherson (Gold Coast Suns), Anthony Miles (Gold Coast Suns)
Emg: Stefan Martin (Brisbane Lions), Mitch Robinson (Brisbane Lions), Lincoln McCarthy (Brisbane Lions), Jack Hombsch (Gold Coast Suns)
Coach
The Gold Coast Suns had a good preseason and Stuart Dew is the right person for the job of coaching this combined team.
Backs
Marcus Adams is capable of curtailing the influence of the opposition’s key forward.
Harris Andrews was named full back in the 2019 AFL All Australian team, therefore it’s an easy decision to pick him at fullback here.
(Photo by Brett Hemmings/AFL Media/Getty Images)
Jarrod Harbrow finished fourth in the 2019 Gold Coast Suns’ best and fairest and has the ability to get close to 20 disposals on average.
Halfbacks
Daniel Rich has the ability to create plenty of run off the halfback flank, use the ball well and finished fifth in the 2019 Brisbane Lions’ best and fairest.
Sam Collins has the capability of playing as a key defender, preferably centre-halfback.
Pearce Hanley finished eighth in the 2019 Gold Coast Suns’ best and fairest. Hanley provides plenty of run off a halfback flank.
Centres
Hugh McCluggage was selected in the 2019 AFL All Australian squad of 40 and plays his best footy on the wing.
Jarryd Lyons finished fourth in the 2019 Brisbane Lions’ best and fairest; he is capable of playing in the midfield effectively.
(Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
Brandon Ellis won the 2019 premiership for the Richmond Tigers playing on the wing; expect him to be a good acquisition for the Gold Coast Suns.
Half-forwards
Hugh Greenwood deserves to play on the half-forward flank as he has a high work rate.
Eric Hipwood is a player that should be playing centre half-forward as he has a lot of potential when it comes to his ability to play as a key forward.
Ben Ainsworth plays his best footy on a half-forward flank.
Forwards
David Swallow finished second in the 2019 Gold Coast Suns’ best and fairest. Playing in the forward pocket would suit him as he can develop into a good defensive forward.
Jarrod Witts showed that he could play as a key forward when he was playing for the Collingwood Magpies and would be suited to the role of playing as a second ruckman.
Charlie Cameron was named in the forward pocket of the 2019 AFL All Australian final 22, which shows how highly regarded he is.
Followers
Zac Smith showed that he is capable of being the number one ruckman for the Gold Coast Suns as he had plenty of game time in the 2020 preseason.
Lachie Neale starting in the centre square in the thick of things is inevitable as he was chosen in the starting 22for the 2019 AFL All Australian team. He leads from the front and is a natural leader.
Lachie Weller will prove to be a more than handy acquisition for the Gold Coast Suns from the Fremantle Dockers as he is still only 24 and has time to mature and gain experience.
(AAP Image/Tony McDonough)
Interchange
Alex Witherden is an underrated player as he can play well on a halfback flank by creating run out of defence.
Dayne Zorko finished second in the 2019 Brisbane Lions’ best and fairest. He would benefit from starting on the interchange bench as is capable of playing the given role needed for the team at that point in time either as a tagger or an attacking player.
Darcy Macpherson finished third in the 2019 Gold Coast Suns’ best and fairest and usually plays on a half-forward flank.
Anthony Miles finished seventh in the 2019 Gold Coast Suns’ best and fairest, finishing ahead of Pearce Hanley. Miles is at his third club and has the ability to improve his game, predominantly playing limited game time through the midfield.
Emergencies
Stefan Martin finished seventh in the 2019 Brisbane Lions’ best and fairest.
Mitch Robinson only finished ninth in the 2019 Brisbane Lions’ best and fairest.
Lincoln McCarthy is a player that has plenty of ability but isn’t playing to an optimum level.
Jack Hombsch finished in the top ten of the 2019 Gold Coast Suns’ best and fairest.
from The Roar https://www.theroar.com.au/2020/04/28/afl-preseason-challenge-cup-queensland/
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