Suns in the Media - Part I

[Experimental]

There are very few people uglier than Patrick Dangerfield. His creepy little eyes stare deep into your soul.

 

[17er]

Have you seen the Dockers' Hobbit? Mitch Crowden is shorter than Zorko and a face that only a mother could love.

 

[17er]

Sun's rapid Player Ratings rise no fluke
Dinny Navaratnam
Apr 7, 2018 11:35AM

Rising Sun Jarryd Lyons

Match preview: Gold Coast v Fremantle
A BARGAIN recruit less than two years ago, Gold Coast onballer Jarryd Lyons has risen to be one of the competition's top, and most underrated, midfielders.

On the back of a brilliant performance against Carlton last Saturday, Lyons became the first Sun other than Gary Ablett to enter the top-20 of the Schick AFL Player Ratings, at No.19.

Who needs Ablett anyway when Lyons is recording monster numbers as he did against the Blues, racking up 36 disposals, 26 contested possessions, 14 clearances, 10 inside-50s, a goal and a mammoth 919m gained.

WHO'S YOUR BEST PLAYER? All the Player Ratings

That's a mischievous contention because Ablett is a champion but Lyons is showing he thrives when handed greater responsibility.

The Suns love when Lyons wins the ball in tight – he has clean hands, impressive skills and a supreme football IQ that makes up for any athletic deficiencies.

He works hard defensively as well and is No.47 in the AFL for pressure acts since the start of last year.

He is the equal-ninth quickest person to reach the top 20 of the Player Ratings, measured by games, since the overall standings began in 2012.

For his former coach Rodney Eade though, Lyons' rise isn't a shock.

Between rounds three and 16 in 2017, he had fewer than 24 disposals just once. Lyons finished sixth in the best and fairest – won by Ablett – after an ankle injury sidelined him late in the campaign.

"He was a little bit slow to start and then he missed a couple of (pre-season) games but after that, his numbers were excellent, and so was the way he was able to win contested ball, so … (his rise) doesn't surprise me at all, because what I saw last year was a really positive sign that he was a very good footballer," Eade told AFL.com.au.

Making the 25-year-old's ascension sweeter for the Suns is how cheap he came. The trade at the end of 2016 saw them give up No.43 and 67 in that year's NAB AFL Draft, while also receiving No.71 in the process.

"We got him for a bargain," Eade said.

It wasn't as if Lyons hadn't shown what he could do yet either. That season, he established himself in Adelaide's best 22, managing 20 matches as the Crows made a semi-final.

But there were struggles earlier in his career with Lyons assigned the now-defunct green vest as the substitute player nine times.

While working to establish himself as a senior player, opposition interest did come. Melbourne and St Kilda were among the clubs seeking to secure the Victorian's services in 2014 before he eventually went to the Suns at the end of 2016.

Whether he stayed at Adelaide or left for Gold Coast was a decision he agonised over and while the Crows would have wanted to keep Lyons, they were handicapped partly by their pursuit of Bryce Gibbs, who they would not land until 12 months later.

In the end, the move made sense for Lyons, who was coming out of contract at the time. His relaxed nature suited the Gold Coast atmosphere and the club's three-year contract offer was more appealing than the Crows' proposal.

"There were a couple of clubs interested but he was keen to come to the Gold Coast," Eade said.

"We met him a couple of days before the trade period finished and we had a good conversation. Apart from his footy, he just seemed like a really good character."

The trade made plenty of sense for the Suns too. As much as Lyons wanted the opportunity to be the key pillar of a midfield group, they were desperate for an inside ball-winner.

A very handy plus was his durability, considering how injuries have restricted Gold Coast in recent years. It's good for Lyons too, apart from the obvious reason, because he's the type of player who needs continuity to be at his best.

He's a gun now and is respected by opposition teams. In round one, North Melbourne sent respected tagger Ben Jacobs to Lyons. The move worked, with Lyons restricted to 21 disposals in a game played in torrential rain – conditions tailor-made for his work on the inside – but Lyons nevertheless managed to contribute to the win with an important late snapped goal.

It was an interesting match-up, because the pair played together at the Sandringham Dragons in the TAC Cup, before Jacobs went at No.16 in the 2010 draft as a highly-rated midfielder, while Lyons was left until No.61.

Lyons has steadily improved since then. Since crossing to Gold Coast, he ranks No.4 in the AFL for loose ball gets, No.6 for centre bounce clearances and No.14 for contested possessions.

Those skills will again be necessary on Saturday as Gold Coast faces Fremantle at Optus Stadium.

Number of games from debut to reach the top 20 of the Player Ratings
1. Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs) – 35 matches
2. Max Gawn (Melbourne) – 57
3. Tom Liberatore (Western Bulldogs) – 64
4. Zac Williams (Greater Western Sydney) – 67
=5. Jack Steven (St Kilda) – 68
=5. Josh Kennedy (Sydney) – 68
6. Nic Naitanui (West Coast) – 71
7. Trent Cotchin (Richmond) – 74
=9. Dylan Shiel (Greater Western Sydney) – 75
=9. Jarryd Lyons (Gold Coast) – 75

 

[SellarStardom]

Well done to Jarryd, always a top talent but stuck in a side behind Sloane, Thompson and the Crouch brothers. Great to see him flourish

 

[17er]

Well done to Jarryd, always a top talent but stuck in a side behind Sloane, Thompson and the Crouch brothers. Great to see him flourish

Actually, in 2016 Lyons formed a great partnership with those guys. It was in the Dangerfield years that Matt Crouch and Jarryd Lyons battled for the same spot. When Paddy went to the Cats, the Crows midfield barely missed a beat. A bit like now with Ablett going to the Cats. Rather have Lyons than Ablett any day.

 

[nutstar]

Best part of that article, it confirms he signed a 3 year deal, which I think most of us weren't entirely sure how long he'd signed for.

 

[Cochblocked]

Dew is the guest on the couch tonight and May will be the guest on AFL tonight tomorrow night

 

[17er]

• Sandilands was charged with rough conduct on Gold Coast's Jarryd Lyons after bumping the midfielder during the third quarter of Fremantle's win at Optus Stadium on Saturday. The ruckman's bump was ruled to be careless low impact to the head, and he has been offered a $2000 fine for an early plea.
• Fremantle's Mitchell Crowden ($2000) for rough conduct against Sun Aaron Hall.
• Freo's Bailey Banfield ($1000) for contact with an injured player (Hall).

So the AFL is acknowledging that it is OK for players to intentionally bumped off the ball. You're even allowed to be elbowed in the head or bumped while you're down injured. I was sure there'd be suspensions today. This is weak as piss from the AFL. Mitch Crowden is going to have short career if he keeps this kind of crap going. No wonder the w***ers with anchors could only draw 33K - even their own supporters had better things to do.

 

[GCStormie]

• No wonder the w***ers with anchors could only draw 33K - even their own supporters had better things to do.

That was mostly due to Freo members protesting that they had to pay for tickets. a good portion were of the opinion that it should have been included in their membership.

 

[17er]

That was mostly due to Freo members protesting that they had to pay for tickets. a good portion were of the opinion that it should have been included in their membership.

We'll see if they can sell out the rest of their season then?

 

[Peel67skin]

We'll see if they can sell out the rest of their season then?

Sat afternoon at 2.35 pm 33k are pretty good.

 

[SunnerSS]

Dew is the guest on the couch tonight and May will be the guest on AFL tonight tomorrow night

Are they flying over or is it by distance?

 

[Cochblocked]

Are they flying over or is it by distance?

It was by distance. Nothing real groundbreaking with the Dew interview.

 

[Jirik13]

Pearce Hanley awaiting results as Gold Coast doctor serves as a senior medico at Comm Games
Andrew Hamilton, The Courier-Mail
26 minutes ago
THE Commonwealth Games continues to disrupt the Suns with Pearce Hanley forced to wait on a diagnosis of his injured shoulder while the club’s doctor serves as a senior GOLDOC medico.

Hanley had scans on the Gold Coast on Monday but club doctor Barry Rigby was on Games duties and had not read the report by the close of business.

The Suns have already ruled Hanley out of next week’s match against West Coast Eagles and will send two extra players to Perth for Saturday’s clash with at the new Perth Stadium.

They have conceded the Irishman requires surgery but are weighing up the gamble of again attempting to give him a few weeks rest and then hoping he can get through the season without popping the shoulder out again.

The Suns are the biggest beneficiary of the Games as their new Training and Administration base would not have been built had the Government not needed extra venues for the Games.

But they have also been put out.

They do not play a home game at Metricon Stadium until Round 11, by which time they would have played in Cairns, Melbourne, Perth twice, Ballarat and China.

Their temporary base at Bond University does not cope with the weather that well and they have been forced to seek alternative training grounds twice in recent weeks.

 

[gosuns!]

Pearce Hanley awaiting results as Gold Coast doctor serves as a senior medico at Comm Games
Andrew Hamilton, The Courier-Mail
26 minutes ago
THE Commonwealth Games continues to disrupt the Suns with Pearce Hanley forced to wait on a diagnosis of his injured shoulder while the club’s doctor serves as a senior GOLDOC medico.

Hanley had scans on the Gold Coast on Monday but club doctor Barry Rigby was on Games duties and had not read the report by the close of business.

The Suns have already ruled Hanley out of next week’s match against West Coast Eagles and will send two extra players to Perth for Saturday’s clash with at the new Perth Stadium.

They have conceded the Irishman requires surgery but are weighing up the gamble of again attempting to give him a few weeks rest and then hoping he can get through the season without popping the shoulder out again.

The Suns are the biggest beneficiary of the Games as their new Training and Administration base would not have been built had the Government not needed extra venues for the Games.

But they have also been put out.

They do not play a home game at Metricon Stadium until Round 11, by which time they would have played in Cairns, Melbourne, Perth twice, Ballarat and China.

Their temporary base at Bond University does not cope with the weather that well and they have been forced to seek alternative training grounds twice in recent weeks.

Best part of that is that we are sending 2 more players over. Surely Barlow and Brodie.

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[17er]

Sat afternoon at 2.35 pm 33k are pretty good.

Sorry mate, but Freo paid an absolute premium for the game and broke even with 4 point bonus. It might be called a win both ways, but the true measure is if they can fill the stadium for every home game from here on in. The Suns may not have won the game, but they put a cool million dollars on a strained bottom line and gambled on getting the points. Fremantle FC look good right now, but if it takes attendance off the top off what they reckon will be a maximum attendance season you have to ask who really won?

 

[Peel67skin]

Sorry mate, but Freo paid an absolute premium for the game and broke even with 4 point bonus. It might be called a win both ways, but the true measure is if they can fill the stadium for every home game from here on in. The Suns may not have won the game, but they put a cool million dollars on a strained bottom line and gambled on getting the points. Fremantle FC look good right now, but if it takes attendance off the top off what they reckon will be a maximum attendance season you have to ask who really won?

I don't know what you sorry for , both of us don't even attend the match in perth , AFL is part of some people life , but you cannot demand people to go if they had other priorities that day .

 

[exile]

That was mostly due to Freo members protesting that they had to pay for tickets. a good portion were of the opinion that it should have been included in their membership.

lol why should it? it's not their home game. any other year we pay our membership for 11 home games, if the lions moved a home game agajnsa us to carrara if the gabba was unavaaiunav I certainly wouldn't expect a freebie with my membership.

 

[SunnerSS]

We get a freebie with the q clash. Or is that just this year? I feel like it's happened before.
Obviously different circumstances as the afl and Queensland footy try to build these matches to be genuine rivalry.

 

[gosuns!]

We get a freebie with the q clash. Or is that just this year? I feel like it's happened before.
Obviously different circumstances as the afl and Queensland footy try to build these matches to be genuine rivalry.

Every year as far as I'm aware. Bit of a kickback for Cairns/China.

On [device_name] using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Belnakor]

That was mostly due to Freo members protesting that they had to pay for tickets. a good portion were of the opinion that it should have been included in their membership.

due to the new stadium 90% of people's membership costs went up, most up by a good 50%. So expecting people to shell out an extra $20 per game AND then have another bespoke game for $30 was too much for alot of people. You also weren't guaranteed your normal seats.

 

[eppo67]

due to the new stadium 90% of people's membership costs went up, most up by a good 50%. So expecting people to shell out an extra $20 per game AND then have another bespoke game for $30 was too much for alot of people. You also weren't guaranteed your normal seats.

That was a joke Fremantle people who pay for Memberships should have not have to have paid for that. What nonsense and they want people to fork out their hard earned money.

 

[Mini GF]

That was a joke Fremantle people who pay for Memberships should have not have to have paid for that. What nonsense and they want people to fork out their hard earned money.

50% increase! Shameful.

 

[17er]

due to the new stadium 90% of people's membership costs went up, most up by a good 50%. So expecting people to shell out an extra $20 per game AND then have another bespoke game for $30 was too much for alot of people. You also weren't guaranteed your normal seats.

Gee, those missing thousands of Freo fans must have gotten very attached to their seats after that first game to be upset about not be able to sit in exactly the same place one week later.

 

[Peel67skin]

due to the new stadium 90% of people's membership costs went up, most up by a good 50%. So expecting people to shell out an extra $20 per game AND then have another bespoke game for $30 was too much for alot of people. You also weren't guaranteed your normal seats.

I think WA got a lot of Essendon and Geelong fan also compare to GC. Bombers being the first Freo match in new stadium definitely pump the volume up on a public holiday week .