With several Gold Coast SUNS stars called to represent their states in Saturday’s AAMI AFL Origin clash, plenty of SUNS stepped up in Thursday’s main session at People First Stadium.
The squad played out half of an intra-club match simulation in preparation for Gold Coast's match simulation against St Kilda at the venue on Thursday February 19.
Development Coach Hugh Greenwood was impressed with a number of players who performed in the absence of SUNS leaders Noah Anderson, Matt Rowell, Sam Collins, Will Powell and Ben King.
“With the Origin boys away, it was a great opportunity for other guys to step into bigger roles,” Greenwood said.
“We shuffled some magnets around today which allowed Koby Coulson to play up around the ball and Ben Jepson was our Swiss Army Knife.
“Leo Lombard has hit the ground running this year, he trained really well again today and just embraced his role. Lachie Gulbin and Sam Clohesy also had a couple of really good moments.
“Touk Miller took charge of the midfield rotation and Christian Petracca stood up as well alongside Jarrod Witts.”
As a Development Coach with a focus on players in the early years of their careers, Greenwood shared the importance of nurturing the SUNS’ young talent.
“We’ve got a pretty young list still and they’re continually building their tank,” the former SUN said.
“When it comes to our role, it’s about up speeding them, upskilling them and getting them ready.
“The top end can’t improve without the rest of the squad moving up too. We’re so grateful that they’re all pretty much ready to go.”
With plenty of movement in the 2025 Trade and Draft Period, followed by a gruelling three months of pre-season, Greenwood emphasised the “competition for spots is hot.”
“The boys have made massive leaps. They’ve had really good summers, gotten fitter, gotten better and that’s the progression from good to great,” Greenwood said.
“We’re really confident that we’ll be able to build on the momentum from last year but we haven’t just come back and expected the momentum to take us forward.
“It’s a clean state. The boys have embraced that mentality.”
As pre-season training comes to close, the SUNS are eager to get their first taste of external competition when they take on the Saints next Thursday night at People First Stadium.
“This time of year, it’s about implementing all the work that we’ve done and knuckling down in our system and the way we want to play knowing that soon we’ll be playing real opposition,” Greenwood said.
“The boys are keen to crack into some bodies that aren’t our own."
Don’t miss out. Secure your SUNS membership to catch all the action when the SUNS take on 2025 Grand Finalists Geelong Cats under the lights at People First Stadium Friday March 6.
