Preview R15: Gold Coast Suns v Hawthorn, Friday June 19, 7.40pm, 2026, People First Stadium.

[PenAndPaper]

i have never understood the 2 ruck thing, even when we were winning games. We look our most dangerous in there when Chol pinch hits. Even Weddle last year, it’s a way to get him into the game.

Meek and Reaves are doing half a job each, and both doing it poorly too.

In: Gunston (Dear if inj), Barrass and Nash (Greeves if inj)

Out: Perez, Ryan and Meek.

We've dominated in hitouts most games, Reeves is 2nd in the comp for hitout win% and Meek is 6th. I think its helped our midfield get on top more than people think.

Sure around the ground they haven't exactly set the world on fire but they're both playing just over 50% game time so they aren't necessarily going to get a heap of it.

I like Chol in the ruck but I think he's too important playing forward and doesn't have the tank to be playing 50/50 forward ruck, he'd end up being cooked when he goes forward so we will lose out on his pressure.

 

[user33]

We've dominated in hitouts most games, Reeves is 2nd in the comp for hitout win% and Meek is 6th. I think its helped our midfield get on top more than people think.

Sure around the ground they haven't exactly set the world on fire but they're both playing just over 50% game time so they aren't necessarily going to get a heap of it.

I like Chol in the ruck but I think he's too important playing forward and doesn't have the tank to be playing 50/50 forward ruck, he'd end up being cooked when he goes forward so we will lose out on his pressure.

I didn’t realise how good their hit out stats were, that’s wild to see.

I guess it’s easy to just go off the eye test of seeing them provide close to zero around the ground.

 

[Dewyyyyy]

I didn’t realise how good their hit out stats were, that’s wild to see.

I guess it’s easy to just go off the eye test of seeing them provide close to zero around the ground.

It’s pretty stiff considering Reeves was the number one hitout and hitout to advantage the other week from a stat that was given from fox footy. He’s got the ability to follow up decently and he’s a tall option around the ground. He’s got a long way to go still in that department but he tries hard and he does what he is good at to an elite level.

Meek is almost there, he’s been getting better, just still struggling with the new rules, he’s just an all round ruck. But doesn’t excel at anything. Showed a bit against the Dogs but poor kicking for goal.

I’d still like to see Reeves number one with Chol and Weddle helping out tho.

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

Where's that guy who used to stand behind the goal with the target sign? We may need him.

 

[PenAndPaper]

I didn’t realise how good their hit out stats were, that’s wild to see.

I guess it’s easy to just go off the eye test of seeing them provide close to zero around the ground.

Yeah, most definitely I don't think they have done enough around the ground but I think what they are bringing to stoppages is pretty good.
We haven't actually lost the hit outs at all yet this year which is pretty crazy to me.

 

[Elhawko]

It’s pretty stiff considering Reeves was the number one hitout and hitout to advantage the other week from a stat that was given from fox footy. He’s got the ability to follow up decently and he’s a tall option around the ground. He’s got a long way to go still in that department but he tries hard and he does what he is good at to an elite level.

Meek is almost there, he’s been getting better, just still struggling with the new rules, he’s just an all round ruck. But doesn’t excel at anything. Showed a bit against the Dogs but poor kicking for goal.

I’d still like to see Reeves number one with Chol and Weddle helping out tho.

I like Reeves' ruck work but I'd hesitate to call him a tall option around the ground! He averages under a mark a game! He averages a contested mark once every five games!! Even allowing he only gets 50% game time due to his rotation with Meek it's not a great record. (Meek's is better. He averages 2.4 marks a game, which if you extrapolate that out would be pretty competitive with most rucks league-wide).

 

[Dewyyyyy]

I like Reeves' ruck work but I'd hesitate to call him a tall option around the ground! He averages under a mark a game! He averages a contested mark once every five games!! Even allowing he only gets 50% game time due to his rotation with Meek it's not a great record. (Meek's is better. He averages 2.4 marks a game, which if you extrapolate that out would be pretty competitive with most rucks league-wide).

The reason I say tall option. Is because despite not marking the ball he’s atleast a beacon for a contest. He needs to improve his tank still and he probably won’t get to any high standards, he has good hands just needs to make sure he’s not blowing cobwebs by the time he gets there.

Meeks not much better, he is better at it but it isn’t a big enough gap like their ruck work is, which Reeves is significantly greater in, and that counts for the league too.

 

[Flag08]

Walk the walk

 

[tommyk72]

Same old same old

Gold Coast 32pts

Yeah. Just like last time we played them.

 

[chippie]

Where's that guy who used to stand behind the goal with the target sign? We may need him.

Yeah. We can get him to stand between the goal and the behind post to give us the best chance!

 

[grumbleguts]

Where's that guy who used to stand behind the goal with the target sign? We may need him.

I believe he lives on the gold coast, and he is on here at BF. TARGETMAN .

 

[TylerDurden]

Is the Lewis ankle ok?

 

[Nugett]

Heading to the game, would love to see a win

 

[fairdinks]

Eh I disagree. He could be but I think his workrate has been immense, showed a fair bit and will grow a lot continuing to get games. Has so many star attributes and been important.

I agree. Nairn. IMO, Nairn will become a very good player and I would persist for now. He may not be in the 23 for the finals if we have a full list, but he does show very good AFL qualities and will only get better with experience and acclimatisation.

in regard to Meek, I can see everyone's frustration, but I thought it was probably his best game for the year, except for his terrible goal kicking. He played with energy and aggression, unfortunately something Reeves cannot do.

It's a real quandary due to Reeve's superiority in the ruck and Meeks inability to compete against taller jumping centre bounce rucks.

 

[eldorado]

Is the Lewis ankle ok?

Hopefully, its the kind of thing that would miss a week only

 

[Atch]

Heading to the game, would love to see a win

Your doing it for the Goldy holiday

 

[number23]

I agree. Nairn. IMO, Nairn will become a very good player and I would persist for now. He may not be in the 23 for the finals if we have a full list, but he does show very good AFL qualities and will only get better with experience and acclimatisation.

The bloke who had Nairn's jumper number before him played 50 games at Boh Hill didn't he? He turned out to be an OK player ..

 

[Dewyyyyy]

Work rate elite, just too slow to execute at times. He will be fine but has to make way for Barrass, Nash and Gunston in the short term. Perez will be dropped and hopefully one of the rucks but they will probably take the easy option and drop Ryan which will leave us top heavy again!

It’s nothing to do with his ability. He’s got the pace and ability with his decision making and kicking. Just needs to get use to the pace of the game.

 

[Dewyyyyy]

He has good work rate and it’ll be why he probably makes it in the AFL but he’s been too handball focused and anytime he’s kicked it he just dump kicks it in the air he has good AFL traits but he’s still needs work and needs to fill his body out.

Nairn, Perez and Ryan out

TB, gunners and Nash back in. Amon back to the wing weddle stays back in defence and keeps Bmac in the side for his run and clean hands. And if by some miracle gunners isn’t ready bring McCabe In.

Not every time. He has a couple times but we’re bound to focus on the negatives like that when talking about a specific player. Rather than his composure and hit up kicks he’s had. Needs more confidence and time to adjust to the level.

 

[peetoo]

I'd just keep the two rucks tbh it'll eventually click for them and they've been ok apart from Meeks 3 bad misses on goal.

They should be killing it second halves. Not sure of details but maybe opposition find ways to counter them in game

 

[Franko Armani]

Get ready for this one. The only live game of the year I can get to. We can’t play that ground.

The blowtorch is on the Suns this week, they’ll get pantsed by the Cats at Geelong and will be playing their Grand Final against us next week.

Man oh man , I’m very frightened.

 

[Coach Killer]

Recon Lewis & Gunners don’t get up 4 this game.

In: Barass, Nash, MCabe
Out: Lewis, Reeves, Bmac

 

[Franko Armani]

We haven't beaten GC up there since 2017. We've played them 6 times since then and lost by 86, 67, 67, 57, 37 and 8. The only hopeful note in that series is we came close last time out. This is just about the last fixture we needed I reckon. I suspect we'll come out hard but where I'd reckon that would be enough in most games there is no guarantee even playing at our best that we will win this.

The loss to the Dogs is so $&@ing aggravating because if we lose to GC we could drop out of the four.

And if on cue, Humphrey suddenly finds the form some people here are claiming he has in him I'm just going to go live in a monastery where there is no communication with the outside world.

Incorrect. We’ve been punished on the GC for years. You are including the results against the Suns in Darwin as well. We haven’t gotten close at Carrara for many years. Can’t play up there in the humidity

 

[Snoref]

This game just got a whole lot more interesting if the rumours about King and Hump are true

 

[Sizzlesilk]

He has good work rate and it’ll be why he probably makes it in the AFL but he’s been too handball focused and anytime he’s kicked it he just dump kicks it in the air he has good AFL traits but he’s still needs work and needs to fill his body out.

Nairn, Perez and Ryan out

TB, gunners and Nash back in. Amon back to the wing weddle stays back in defence and keeps Bmac in the side for his run and clean hands. And if by some miracle gunners isn’t ready bring McCabe In.

Unfortunately we are back to at BH make forwards defenders or Wingers.

McCabe back on a wing.

While Serong is almost statistically the best “soldier/wingman” in the comp.