Squad Breakdown: Gold Coast Suns 2023 SC analysis

Another almost year for the Suns, but is 2023 the year that we see the Suns rise?

On the back of their best year post the Gary Ablett Jr era, the Suns have seen another year of development in their key young brigade plus also added some key depth to their line up.

A fit Ben King, and another year into Anderson, Rowell and Lukoscious, plus the development of players like Hollands and Ainsworth should see the suns knocking on the door of finals in 2023.

Adding versatile half backer Ben Long, an exciting young prospect in Bailey Humphrey and seasoned players Anderson and Blakely (though likely depth only) give the Suns a very nice launching pad coming into the year.

Not to mention the amazing year that captain Touk Miller put together, almost taking out the Brownlow for is stellar season.

The big question is, what does this mean for Supercoach?

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Team

FB: Connor Budarick, Sam Collins, Caleb Graham

HB: Will Powell, Charlie Ballard, Ben Long

C: Brandon Ellis, Noah Anderson, Lachie Weller

HF: Ben Ainsworth, Mabior Chol, Jack Lukosius

FF: Sam Flanders, Ben King , Nick Holman

FOL: Jarrod Witts, Touk Miller, Matt Rowell

I/C: David Swallow, Charlie Constable, Elijah Hollands, Alex Davies

SUB: Sean Lemmens

EMG: Baily Humphreys, Jeremy Sharp, Jy Farrar, Malcolm Rosas

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List Changes

Ins

Jed Anderson (pre-season supplemental selection period), Tom Berry (trade, Brisbane), Connor Blakely (Rookie Draft), Bailey Humphrey (No.6 draft pick), Lloyd Johnston (category B rookie), Ben Long (trade, St Kilda), Brodie McLaughlin (pre-season supplemental selection period), Jake Stein (Rookie Draft)

Outs

Jack Bowes (trade, Geelong), Matt Conroy (delisted), Josh Corbett (trade, Fremantle), Jez McLennan (delisted), Oleg Markov (delisted), Patrick Murtagh (delisted), Rhys Nicholls (delisted), Izak Rankine (trade, Adelaide), Rory Thompson (retired)

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Lock & Load

Touk Miller (MID, $662,400)

Hard to think that Touk wont be a top 5 midfielder in Supercoach for 2023… I think an easy argument can be made that he is number 1 overall.

We know that Touk is a beast as he fills out every stat line and has the perfect balance of inside and outside game. Going at a contested possession rate of around 53% from his average of 28 disposals per game, whilst still amassing over 500 mtrs gained, he really does have the perfect game for Supercoach.

He is super consistent with only 7 scores under 100 across his last 2 years (43 games) with a 2 year average of 122!

With trepidation around Laird’s price and Oliver’s Hand injury he is an excellent pick for your M1 spot and will save yourself the heartache of trying to find a way to reach him across the year given the lack of down games.

PSA: Touk has just suffered a slight hamstring injury during training, so keep an eye out for his fitness heading into Round 1

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Mid-Pricer

Sam Flanders (MID/FWD, $256,300)

Flanders was an early pick back in 2019 (pick 11) in the same draft as Rowell and Anderson.

However, he has taken time to cement his spot in the Suns best 22 playing only 9 games across 2022.

He was a dominant junior and also at reserves level so it appears only a matter of time before that translates to AFL.

Pre season talk is that he may well be part of their midfield rotation this year and positive news is coming out of the coach and the club.

Keep him on your watchlist for pre pre-season and if the mid role is there, it may be worth the punt.

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Cheapie

Charlie Constable (DEF/MID, $123,900)

Starved of opportunities at the Cattery, the Suns may have made a shrewd signing in this 23-year-old in his 6^th season.

2019 was the last time we saw any meaningful game time out of Charlie and in that season averaged 80SC across his 7 games. That coupled with excellent VFL numbers over the past few years mean that he knows how to find the ball, he just needs the opportunity and role.

The Suns have publicly stated that they want to use him across half back and if that eventuates, at his price, he is likely to make some quick cash for us.

The proof will be in the pudding, and depending on how the pre-season plays out, Charlie may prove a handy cash cow with DPP to play switcharoo with someone like Reuben Ginbey for additional positional flexibility.

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Avoid

Matt Rowell (MID, $481,800)

He promised so much, but despite his stellar first few games, he has failed to live up to what we had hoped.

Whilst it was a better year across 2022, 3 x120, 7×100, it wasn’t what we had hoped when most of us picked him at a discounted price in 2022.

His lack of spread and ability to run off to space and find the outside ball has hurt him and I fear priced at 88, that is about where he is and would need significant improvement to be a worthwhile starting pick

With players like Luke Davies-Uniacke, Tom Green, Tom Mitchell and of course Noah Anderson (I had to get him in) priced around 50-60k higher, I think it would take a very brave coach to start Rowell in 2023.