Underrated defender Rory Thompson looks set for a breakout year with the Gold Coast SUNS after a dominant display at this morning’s intra-club match at Metricon Stadium.

The 200cm giant has been a stand-out performer throughout the Club’s gruelling pre-season training campaign, and continued to impress GC SUNS coaching staff in today’s intra-club match where he made a real impact.

Speaking exclusively with goldcoastfc.com.au after the spirited match contest, GC SUNS assistant coach Andy Lovell said the coaching staff were confident Thompson was ready to embark on a successful career in the AFL competition.

“(Rory) Thompson was a definite stand-out this morning,” said Lovell.

“His ability to impact the ball in our defensive structures was great match-practise for some of our key tall forwards.”

Versatile bigman Charlie Dixon set the tone early for the blue team, taking it straight up to skilful ruckman Zac Smith from the first bounce, who moments later found a charging Michael Rischitelli who kicked the first goal of the match.  

It didn’t take long before the match turned into a physical contest between the “blue” and “yellow” squads, with elevated-rookie Kyal Horsley earning himself a free-kick after being taken too high in a tackle by talented utility Jared Brennan.

Prized-recruit Jack Martin once again captivated the GC SUNS faithful, weaving his way easily amongst congested stoppages to find a target on most occasions.

The much talked about Jaeger O’Meara also showed a number of promising signs and look set to impress the footy world through the 2013 season.

GC SUNS pre-season training champion Joel Wilkinson showed great improvement on the field, his team launching a series of long-kicks into the blue squad’s forwardline.

In the final moments of the first quarter, ultra-consistent Danny Stanley delivered a bullet-like pass that found the chest of a leading Jeremy Taylor who found the goals after the siren.

Steven May continued to impress, relishing in his new “swingman” role with a dominating display at both ends of the ground.

Star midfielder Harley Bennell excelled once more, putting in another solid performance after being awarded the Polly Farmer Medal in the Indigenous All Stars exhibition match last Friday.

Speaking after the match Bluey (McKenna) believed the team had improved in a number of areas around the ground that last year caused the coaching staff a few headaches.

“I thought some of the key areas we focused on during the pre-season were out on show today,” said McKenna.

“With our group developing and becoming stronger over the summer, I thought our tackling pressure today was probably the best I’ve ever seen.”

“While we did ask players to temper their playing intensity, I still thought that when their teammate got tackled they stayed tackled.”

GC SUNS Vice-Captain Nathan Bock watched on from the sidelines, as he continues to recover from a broken leg that ended his 2012 premiership campaign.

Fearless defender Seb Tape (knee), Trent McKenzie (knee), Liam Patrick (hamstring), Clay Cameron (groin) and Brandon Matera (foot) were also among the absentees from this morning’s spirited intra-club match practise.

The squad will now turn their focus towards the NAB Cup, with the GC SUNS set to go up against the Brisbane Lions and Hawthorn on Saturday February 22 at Metricon Stadium.