It’s shaping up as the most exciting NEAFL clash of the Round and Gold Coast SUNS reserves coach Shaun Hart knows his premiership hopefuls will have their work cut out for them this Saturday, as they prepare to face the sting of the in-form Aspley Hornets in hostile foreign territory.
It’ll be two of the Northern Conference’s top four teams battling it out for the Premiership Points at Aspley Park, and the travelling Gold Coasters are hungrier than ever to get a win and improve their position on the ladder after going winless against the NT Thunder and Brisbane in recent weeks.
“It’s going to be a massive challenge for us, and we’ll definitely need to play as well if we’re to get a good result against Aspley this week,” Hart told goldcoastfc.com.au on Thursday.
“Aspley are sitting third in the Premiership race and have been super impressive, so it’s definitely going to be a big test.”
And while NEAFL SUNS will be without Seb Tape and Josh Hall, after they were elevated to the first team ahead of Saturdays match against Richmond in Cairns.
It is expected Hart will regain the services of Joel Wilkinson, Maverick Weller and Timmy Sumner – as the trio look to begin staking their claim for another shot in the senior team.
Goal-sneak Jacob Gillbee is expected to receive closer opposition attention from the Hornets, after the 20-year-old Tasmanian finished with a bag of five goals against the Lions reserves at Coorparoo last weekend.
But it will be Hart’s former Lions teammate and Hornet’s skipper Robert Copeland that will have him most worried, with Hart well aware of the 32-year-old’s skillset after winning multiple premierships with each other in the maroon and blue Guernsey.
“They’re a real premiership chance and are strengthened by Tom Blair, a former premiership coach for Morningside, and have multiple ex-AFL listed players like Robert Copeland,” Hart said.
The NEAFL SUNS vs. Aspley Round 17 NEAFL match is scheduled to get underway from 1:20pm on Saturday with the opening bounce at 1:30pm at Aspley Park.
