1. A lot more than a one-man team
Stop Gary Ablett and you stop the Suns. That has been the belief of most opponents visiting Metricon Stadium despite the acknowledgement of the swift improvement of his team-mates. Maybe teams will think otherwise now. With Ablett forced to wear Liam Picken like a second skin, the Suns needed others to step up and they certainly did. Matt Shaw in particular was immense, racing forward to influence play from half-back as well as snuffing out goalscoring chances. Jarrod Harbrow was also extremely impressive and Dion Prestia racked up his usual mountain of possessions.
2. Cooney reported
The two Brownlow medallists crashed together on the edge of the Suns’ attacking 50but Adam Cooney was a second later than Ablett and as well as grazing his opponent’s head with an elbow, chopped the Suns’ best player around the knees, one or both of which is which is likely to earn him a holiday. Clay Smith may also be asked for an explanation from the Tribunal for an off the ball hit on Luke Russell in the second quarter.
3. Lynch standing tall
There may not be a better young, tall forward in the competition than Tom Lynch and certainly not a more in-form one after his 15 goals in four games. Along with Charlie Dixon he provides a fearsome twin towers duo for any team to handle. Just as impressive though is Lynch’s work outside of the 50-metre arc. Against the Bulldogs he often helped set up attacking chances, including two assists, and worked at a disposal efficiency of 87.5%.
4. Ablett looks mortal
In his two previous games against the Bulldogs in a Gold Coast guernsey, Ablett has received five Brownlow votes. Although an important force in the crucial third quarter, it’s very unlikely he received any votes today. After having the first disposal of the game, he waited nearly until quarter-time for his second. It led him to exhibit atypical behaviour, complaining to the umpire early in the second quarter about the close attention of Picken, initiating a bout of shirt-grabbing and even channelling his inner Cristiano Ronaldo when reacting theatrically to slight contact to the head from his nemesis. However, it could be an elbow thrown in frustration that caught Picken high in the second quarter that causes Ablett most trouble, and might throw Brownlow betting markets into turmoil.
5. Bulldogs waste their chance
Somehow the Suns went into the half time six points up when they probably should have been two goals down. Robert Murphy and Ryan Griffen were both guilty of wasting scoring opportunities in a half where the Bulldogs midfield largely had their way with their opposite numbers. It was unlikely the Suns would be as ineffective in the second half and they were not, scoring seven goals without response after the long break.
