Starting spots up for grabs

Gold Coast SUNS players serious about forcing their way into the clubs top 22 are being given every opportunity as the clubs pre-season focus shifts towards match preparation.

An early start and another physical hit-out for the Gold Coast SUNS this morning as the clubs coaching team continue their hard line approach to the clubs 2013 preparations.

Led by High performance Manager Stephen Schwerdt and Head Fitness Coach Paul Haines, the squad were led through a series of testing drills designed to simulate match situations.

Haines saying the sessions are a great opportunity for players to press for places in the NAB Cup.

“For a lot of these boys, the skills sessions are a great opportunity to receive individual feedback from Bluey (McKenna) and the rest of the coaching staff, so that they can determine what other areas of their game they need to improve on,” Haines said.

It was the morning’s goal kicking competition which provided most entertainment with the players challenged to land ten set-shots on goal from various positions on field.

“It was great to see the accuracy levels of the players under significant fatigue today, their attention to detail and ability to focus on the task at hand was very pleasing.”

It was towering Ruckman Zac Smith, who delivered the highlight of the session, sending a bullet like pass that travelled more than 30 metres into the hands of a charging Sam Day who found the goals.

Haines telling goldcoastfc.com.au that with the NAB Cup fast approaching, there has been a definite lift in the intensity of the playing group.

“It’s certainly great to see the players getting in a solid skills session following yesterday’s physical game simulation,”

“We have had a really solid pre-season campaign and it’s great to see the players so motivated to continue with the hard work and development as individuals and as a group,”  said Haines.