The Gold Coast SUNS have stepped up their intensity heading in to their 2015 AFL campaign with a match simulation session at training on Wednesday morning.
 
Rodney Eade’s first pre-season in charge of the SUNS is in its concluding stages with the opening NAB Challenge game against Geelong in Townsville only 11 days away. The sight of official umpires parading around Metricon Stadium was enough to remind everyone the season is drawing closer by the day.
 
The former Western Bulldogs and Sydney Swans mentor was quick to draw positives from his side’s shortened four-quarter hit out, identifying the conditioning benefits of the session ahead of next Sunday’s fixture against the Cats.
 
“I think all practice matches you’re going to get something positive out of it. Virtually we didn’t get any injuries, we got a couple of little knocks, but that was fine,”  Eade said.
 
“I think some key players got some touches, but it was pleasing for young lads [Touk] Miller; I thought [Alex] Sexton was okay, I thought [Adam] Saad was good after half-time.
 
“So there was some positive signs there, but it’s just the first hit out. I think it was more in match like situation; we ended up training today 12 or 13kms. I think it’s a good lead in to NAB One.”
 
Different clubs approach the pre-season fixtures in different manners, depending on a variety of factors that typically focus on player availability and training loads.
 
Eade acknowledged the fine balancing act of allowing enough opportunities for players to prove their worth during the pre-season competition, whilst also building towards round one of the home and away season.
 
“I think it’s going to be an interesting NAB series because every club’s going to have a different (agenda) because of the number of days between breaks (and) when you play,” he said.
 
“You might play one team and you’re actually flat out with your best team and they’re undermanned team, so that’s going to be tricky.
 
“We think with the way we are, (with) probably 34 available for NAB One, we’ll be inexperienced and probably undermanned to a degree, but that’s fine. We might be able to find a player or two out of it.
 
“NAB Two we’ll start to get more of a look of where we’re at as a team and certainly NAB Three, hopefully they’re all available.”