It’s hard to believe that in just under three weeks your team, the Gold Coast SUNS will run out for the first time in a scheduled AFL clash with Guy McKenna’s charges up against the Sydney Swans in the opening round of the 2011 NAB Cup (Saturday, 19th February).
After an exhausting pre-season regime, the GC SUNS young playing list are both nervous and excited by the challenges ahead of them, many preparing to make the giant step up from various TAC Cup and VFL sides.
While the players might be a little edgy, the GC SUNS coaching staff are comfortable with the position they find themselves in with General Manager of Football Operations Marcus Ashcroft saying the playing squad have really firmed as a unit.
“There haven’t been any real standouts; however the overall intensity of preseason has really lifted. We are increasing the minutes at training in game simulated situations, were now really preparing to play footy.”
“Our guys need to get some sort of match fitness through match simulation during training, so when they come to play it’s not foreign to them.”
When it comes to stand out performers, Marcus quickly pointed the finger at some of the GC SUNS younger players who have now benefitted from a season with the Club under Guy and his experienced Coaching staff.
“So I think as far as stand outs the guys that have been here for a year or so like Maverick Weller, Dave Swallow, Luke Russell, Brandon Matera those guys would have benefited massively from the VFL and the second season in the AFL system.”
“We are all really looking forward to seeing how those guys will go in AFL Company, that’s the great unknown until we play.”
The Swans clash will hopefully provide the Coaching staff with more answers than it does questions, with Marcus keen to see the GC SUNS in full flight.
“Once they start playing games together under that intense pressure of a match which is something you can’t simulate at training, the better they are going to be as the year progresses.” “We know they have incredible individual talents, and were confident they will become better in their unity and the way they play as a team, during each match they contest.”
Excitement around the launch of the team from a community perspective is also building strongly with more than ten thousand fully ticketed members set to cheer the team on in 2011.
Looking to buy tickets for this event?
Gold Coast SUNS Member pre-sale on now:
Gold Coast SUNS Members heading to the clubs first ever NAB Cup event can now buy tickets through Ticketmaster during the members pre-sale up until 5pm, Tuesday, February 1.
>> Click here to buy online now and quote the password: NABSUNS
Please note there’s a limit of four tickets per member during this pre-sale period.
General Public ticket on-sale: Tickets will be made available to the general public through Ticketmaster from 9am, Wednesday, February 2.
