Brandon Ellis says taking the game on and having a bit of fun are keys to the SUNS starting the final stretch of the 2022 Home & Away season with a bang this Sunday against West Coast.
The SUNS return home to Metricon Stadium for the first time since Round 17 to face the struggling Eagles – a side they have already tasted success against in 2022 with a 27-point win in Round 1.
The West Coast challenge won’t be taken lightly by the SUNS with the two-time premiership player himself reaffirming that the Eagles line-up brings plenty of experience.
“They’re going to be hard to beat. They’ve still got a lot of premiership players and a lot of experience,” Ellis said.
“We just have to play our brand of footy, take it on and have fun.”
The match-up begins a big four-week block for the SUNS, but attention remains squarely on Sunday’s task at hand following a narrow defeat against local rivals Brisbane in Round 19.
“It (QClash) was very competitive. I’m proud of the effort – they’ve bettered us the last couple of times we needed to make a stand and put a stop to it. I think we did, just a pity we couldn’t get the win,” Ellis added.
“We probably didn’t take our moments like they did – they kicked the goals, and that was probably where the game was won and lost.
“There’s still a month of footy to go and the goal is to win as many games of footy as possible.
“We’ll just focus on West Coast this week, then get ready to go to Tassie (to face Hawthorn in Round 21). We can’t wait for the month of footy ahead.”
The 228-gamer has used his wealth of experience right across the ground throughout the season, firming himself as one of the SUNS’ most versatile assets.
Regularly seen charging off half-back or on the wing, Ellis is happy to play his role, whatever that may be each week, adding that keeping his body in check has been a key focus in 2022.
“I just play wherever Stuey (Dew) needs me – it’s that’s on half back, or the wing, I’ll happily play there. I’ve played most of my career there so I’m pretty comfortable with both positions,” he continued.
“(A goal has been to) Get my body as best as possible week in, week out because last year I missed a bit of footy with my hamstring.
“I don’t like being in rehab so I’ve been looking after my body a lot more.”
First bounce for Sunday’s game at Metricon Stadium is at 1.10pm with the SUNS VFL squad also facing Port Melbourne in a curtain raiser, first bounce 9.05am. Get your tickets here.
