Beware of the sleeping giant

A month ago, the Swans were being written off as premiership contenders. Lance Franklin was missing with a mysterious back injury. Luke Parker had broken his leg. Suddenly their aura of invincibility was no longer present. But on the back of stellar performances by Kurt Tippett in the ruck and inside the arc, along with Brownlow medal fancies Dan Hannebery and Josh Kennedy in the guts, the Swans have reminded the competition in the last month that they shouldn’t be counted out. Much hinges on the fitness of Franklin in the most important month of the year and it still remains to be seen whether or not the back injury will prevent him from waving his magic wand. Whilst Saturday night will draw Gold Coast’s season to an end, the Swans will be using it as a final dress rehearsal ahead of their first final next week. They are close to full strength with only Nick Smith missing from the side that will be available next week, as the Swans elected to take a cautious approach with the All Australian defender after he tweaked his hamstring against St Kilda last weekend.

Miller set to tick off all 22 games in debut year

His year may not have earned the plaudits it deserves outside the four walls of Metricon Stadium, but inside the Gold Coast SUNS, first-year sensation Touk Miller is on the cusp of closing the book on an exceptional debut season. The energetic midfielder has played all 21 games thus far and along with Kade Kolodjashnij is one of only two players to walk out every week. Miller’s season has exceeded expectations, and whilst Patrick Cripps and Jesse Hogan will fight out the Rising Star award, it mustn’t be forgotten that both players are in their second years in the AFL. And in Hogan’s case, technically his third year after being taken by the Demons as a 17-year-old priority access pick. That puts Miller in a strong position to be rewarded for his maiden year with the AFLPA’s best first year player award. Jake Lever, Jordan De Goey, Isaac Heeney and Angus Brayshaw also have strong claims on the prize, but Miller must be right up there, surely.

Lynch and Dixon in final round shoot out

Gold Coast key forwards Tom Lynch and Charlie Dixon have combined to be one of the best forward pairings in the game this season. The only issue has been keeping Dixon on the park for extended periods, with his troublesome ankles limiting him to just 15 appearances in 2015. Although a few of those games have been severely impacted by injury. Ahead of the final game of the home and away season, Lynch leads the goal kicking at the SUNS on 41 in front of Dixon’s 39. Adelaide’s combination of Taylor Walker (54 goals) and Josh Jenkins (41 goals) in the key posts, along with Eddie Betts at ground level (54 goals) has been the most potent this year. And there is West Coast led by Coleman medal leader Josh Kennedy (72 goals) and Mark LeCras (37 goals), as well as Jack Darling who has returned in the second half of the year. Lynch’s form on the back nine this season should see him win his second consecutive goal kicking prize at Carrara, to go with a high finish in the best and fairest.

Definitely no second-year blues for Kolodjashnij

Kade Kolodjashnij has been one of the best second-year players in the game this year, escaping any chance of having the dreaded second-year blues associated with his football. Hogan and Cripps are both in their second season and have dominated attention because of their eligibility for the coveted Ron Evans medal. But, along with Marcus Bontempelli and Dom Sheed, Kolodjashnij has crafted one of the best years out of his draft class. He has been a picture of consistency in 2015, performing duties that bely his inexperience. Roles that have forced him to grow up almost overnight and seem him make enormous growth in his second season in the AFL. Across 21 games, Kolodjashnij is averaging 22.2 disposals at an efficiency rate of 75.2 per cent, as well as 4.5 rebound 50s. The Tasmanian has quickly become the SUNS architect, setting up play from deep in defence and making the right decision time and time again. Expect to see him finish high in the best and fairest given his ultra-consistent campaign.

Broughton to draw the curtains closed

Saturday night will be the final time Greg Broughton plays in the AFL after the defender announced his retirement earlier in the week. The 28-year-old will play his 110th game against Sydney at the SCG, calling time on a career that started later than most, at the age of 22 after being picked up by Fremantle as a mature-aged recruit following a successful stint at Subiaco in the WAFL. 2015 has been a tough year for Broughton with a handful of injuries not allowing him to build any continuity in his football. Having never played less than 15 games across his first six seasons in the AFL, the former Docker has managed just four senior games this year due to knee, elbow and achilles injuries that have taken their toll. Broughton’s final appearance may see him play on dangerous Swan Isaac Heeney. The Sydney academy product has endured injury concerns of his own this year and had it not been for the interruption there is little doubt he would be challenging Hogan and Cripps for the Rising Star prize. Heeney kicked 4.0 last week and looms as a tough assignment for whoever goes to him.