With the pre-season now in the past, and round one only days away, goldcoastfc.com.au looks at a handful of talking points from the summer.

First summer down for prized recruit

Nick Malceski landed on the Gold Coast in early November and immediately made an impression by joining training two weeks earlier than required. Since day one, the former Sydney Swans premiership defender has demonstrated how valuable he is to a young group in terms of leadership and direction and not just his potent left foot. There is no question of his on-field value. Admittedly, he is in the twilight of his career, but the 2014 All-Australian half-back flanker was the most damaging rebounding defender in the game last year. Malceski has built steadily over the NAB Challenge series, with his opening two games showing glimpses of form, before he gathered 27 possessions in the final hitout against Brisbane. In the SUNS' final dress rehearsal of the summer, the back six was at full strength, allowing Malceski to begin to build synergy with key posts Rory Thompson and Steven May, as well as rebounding duo Trent McKenzie and Kade Kolodjashnij.

After a slow start, Hallahan demonstrating his worth

The recruitment of Mitch Hallahan from premiers Hawthorn during last October’s trade period was viewed as a masterstroke by football experts across the country. The inside midfielder was starved of opportunity at the Hawks due to their embarrassment of riches in that department. His pre-season began slowly due to post-season ankle surgery, but since the Christmas interval Hallahan has constructed an impressive debut summer at Metricon Stadium. In the opening NAB Challenge game against Geelong, Hallahan gathered 24 disposals and eight clearances to be one of the SUNS' best in Townsville. He followed it up with a dominant performance in a NEAFL practice match against Southport before playing in the final game of the pre-season against Brisbane where he still got his hands on the ball, but was a little down on his first two outings in SUNS colours. His inside work has been lauded over the summer, with his inclusion allowing others to win more ball on the outside and thus put the ball inside 50 in a more effective and efficient manner.

Ruck department fully stocked

It may only be March, but the fact there is a full collection of fit ruckmen in Carrara is no mean feat. In recent seasons, injuries have ravaged this department, with Tom Nicholls and Zac Smith enduring more than their fair share of hardship. The pair has fought for the No. 1 ruck mantle throughout the summer and the competition has been highly beneficial for them. With no Tom Lynch or Charlie Dixon available for round one, it appears likely that the duo will be included in the same 22. And this is something Rodney Eade has said he may continue throughout the season. Along with Nicholls and Smith, mature-aged rookie Keegan Brooksby played in the opening two NAB Challenge matches and didn’t look overawed by the step up in intensity from the SANFL. After a barren couple of seasons, the ruck department in Carrara has rarely looked healthier.

Draftees on track for a round one debut

Touk Miller, Jarrod Garlett and Adam Saad all arrived within the space of a week following the drafts in late November and early December. The trio played in all three of the NAB Challenge games and all impressed in a variety of ways. And now have emerged as potential round one debutants against Melbourne this Saturday. On the back of his eye-catching dashes from half-back, Saad’s story has generated widespread interest. Not only was he overlooked in three National Drafts before being plucked in last year’s Rookie Draft, but he is only the third Muslim to be on an AFL list. Miller and Garlett have simply played a role inside attacking 50 for the SUNS during the pre-season and have chased and harassed their way to a probable opening round debut.

Backline batting deeper than ever before

Since the club’s inception, competition for spots at the Gold Coast SUNS has never been fiercer. The absence of May and Thompson during the opening two games of the pre-season allowed young key defenders Jack Leslie and Henry Schade to demonstrate their ability and get some valuable exposure against elite opposition. Leslie tackled two of the toughest tasks in the game in Tom Hawkins and Jeremy Cameron and wasn’t overawed by the back-to-back battles. Whilst Schade didn’t look out of place against the Cats before going down with an ankle injury. May and Thompson are undoubtedly the best two key defenders at the club, but if one of them goes down, the coaching staff can have confidence in their replacement being capable of filling the breach. Across the board, and in particularly down back, the depth at the club has never been stronger. A sign of a club on track for a successful season.