Latest news with #Suns'
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Lions forced to 'face the music' before Magpies clash
Lachie Neale reckons it's sometimes best to quickly forget a bad performance. The Brisbane Lions' historic 66-point QClash loss to Gold Coast on Saturday was not one of those times. "We had to face the music," the co-captain and midfield general said on Monday of their match review. "Hard to watch ... embarrassing clips that's not usual for us. "It's good to see some of that … sometimes you can brush over it but, at this time of year, a performance like that wasn't acceptable." Having won 12 of their last 13 encounters, Neale and his midfield group had the tables turned on them by Gold Coast's engine room. Matt Rowell had a career-high 37 touches, only one more than Neale. But the Suns' ball-winner had 15 clearances to Neale's three, a statistic summing up what was the Suns' biggest defeat of the Lions. The two-time Brownlow Medal-winner said "something mentally wasn't quite right" but insisted that wouldn't be the case against Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday. "Hard to put your finger on it; perhaps we got a bit comfortable ... maybe not prepared to go to footy war, roll up your sleeves," Neale said of a loss that snapped a four-game winning streak. "A bit of a kick in the teeth an as a midfield group certainly lowered our colours. "It's a great time for us to play (Collingwood); if we can bounce back and play our best it's going to be a great game. "I wish we were playing Thursday, rather than Saturday." The Lions dipped to third with the loss and have a tricky finish to the regular season with games against the top-placed Magpies, Sydney, Fremantle and Hawthorn. A draw with North Melbourne leaves Brisbane one-and-a-half wins clear of the eighth-placed Dockers in a crowded ladder. "It's very cliche but if you do look at the ladder you can get in your own head and think, we might win this one and lost that one, or win that one," Neale said of his decision not to over-analyse the scenario. "We finished fifth last year and were able to make a run. "We'll try and win out from here. Go into every week with a plan to win. "We'll keep doing that and where we end up we probably deserve and we'll have earned our spot." Lachie Neale reckons it's sometimes best to quickly forget a bad performance. The Brisbane Lions' historic 66-point QClash loss to Gold Coast on Saturday was not one of those times. "We had to face the music," the co-captain and midfield general said on Monday of their match review. "Hard to watch ... embarrassing clips that's not usual for us. "It's good to see some of that … sometimes you can brush over it but, at this time of year, a performance like that wasn't acceptable." Having won 12 of their last 13 encounters, Neale and his midfield group had the tables turned on them by Gold Coast's engine room. Matt Rowell had a career-high 37 touches, only one more than Neale. But the Suns' ball-winner had 15 clearances to Neale's three, a statistic summing up what was the Suns' biggest defeat of the Lions. The two-time Brownlow Medal-winner said "something mentally wasn't quite right" but insisted that wouldn't be the case against Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday. "Hard to put your finger on it; perhaps we got a bit comfortable ... maybe not prepared to go to footy war, roll up your sleeves," Neale said of a loss that snapped a four-game winning streak. "A bit of a kick in the teeth an as a midfield group certainly lowered our colours. "It's a great time for us to play (Collingwood); if we can bounce back and play our best it's going to be a great game. "I wish we were playing Thursday, rather than Saturday." The Lions dipped to third with the loss and have a tricky finish to the regular season with games against the top-placed Magpies, Sydney, Fremantle and Hawthorn. A draw with North Melbourne leaves Brisbane one-and-a-half wins clear of the eighth-placed Dockers in a crowded ladder. "It's very cliche but if you do look at the ladder you can get in your own head and think, we might win this one and lost that one, or win that one," Neale said of his decision not to over-analyse the scenario. "We finished fifth last year and were able to make a run. "We'll try and win out from here. Go into every week with a plan to win. "We'll keep doing that and where we end up we probably deserve and we'll have earned our spot." Lachie Neale reckons it's sometimes best to quickly forget a bad performance. The Brisbane Lions' historic 66-point QClash loss to Gold Coast on Saturday was not one of those times. "We had to face the music," the co-captain and midfield general said on Monday of their match review. "Hard to watch ... embarrassing clips that's not usual for us. "It's good to see some of that … sometimes you can brush over it but, at this time of year, a performance like that wasn't acceptable." Having won 12 of their last 13 encounters, Neale and his midfield group had the tables turned on them by Gold Coast's engine room. Matt Rowell had a career-high 37 touches, only one more than Neale. But the Suns' ball-winner had 15 clearances to Neale's three, a statistic summing up what was the Suns' biggest defeat of the Lions. The two-time Brownlow Medal-winner said "something mentally wasn't quite right" but insisted that wouldn't be the case against Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday. "Hard to put your finger on it; perhaps we got a bit comfortable ... maybe not prepared to go to footy war, roll up your sleeves," Neale said of a loss that snapped a four-game winning streak. "A bit of a kick in the teeth an as a midfield group certainly lowered our colours. "It's a great time for us to play (Collingwood); if we can bounce back and play our best it's going to be a great game. "I wish we were playing Thursday, rather than Saturday." The Lions dipped to third with the loss and have a tricky finish to the regular season with games against the top-placed Magpies, Sydney, Fremantle and Hawthorn. A draw with North Melbourne leaves Brisbane one-and-a-half wins clear of the eighth-placed Dockers in a crowded ladder. "It's very cliche but if you do look at the ladder you can get in your own head and think, we might win this one and lost that one, or win that one," Neale said of his decision not to over-analyse the scenario. "We finished fifth last year and were able to make a run. "We'll try and win out from here. Go into every week with a plan to win. "We'll keep doing that and where we end up we probably deserve and we'll have earned our spot."
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Lions forced to 'face the music' before Magpies clash
Lachie Neale reckons it's sometimes best to quickly forget a bad performance. The Brisbane Lions' historic 66-point QClash loss to Gold Coast on Saturday was not one of those times. "We had to face the music," the co-captain and midfield general said on Monday of their match review. "Hard to watch ... embarrassing clips that's not usual for us. "It's good to see some of that … sometimes you can brush over it but, at this time of year, a performance like that wasn't acceptable." Having won 12 of their last 13 encounters, Neale and his midfield group had the tables turned on them by Gold Coast's engine room. Matt Rowell had a career-high 37 touches, only one more than Neale. But the Suns' ball-winner had 15 clearances to Neale's three, a statistic summing up what was the Suns' biggest defeat of the Lions. The two-time Brownlow Medal-winner said "something mentally wasn't quite right" but insisted that wouldn't be the case against Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday. "Hard to put your finger on it; perhaps we got a bit comfortable ... maybe not prepared to go to footy war, roll up your sleeves," Neale said of a loss that snapped a four-game winning streak. "A bit of a kick in the teeth an as a midfield group certainly lowered our colours. "It's a great time for us to play (Collingwood); if we can bounce back and play our best it's going to be a great game. "I wish we were playing Thursday, rather than Saturday." The Lions dipped to third with the loss and have a tricky finish to the regular season with games against the top-placed Magpies, Sydney, Fremantle and Hawthorn. A draw with North Melbourne leaves Brisbane one-and-a-half wins clear of the eighth-placed Dockers in a crowded ladder. "It's very cliche but if you do look at the ladder you can get in your own head and think, we might win this one and lost that one, or win that one," Neale said of his decision not to over-analyse the scenario. "We finished fifth last year and were able to make a run. "We'll try and win out from here. Go into every week with a plan to win. "We'll keep doing that and where we end up we probably deserve and we'll have earned our spot."
The Advertiser
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
'Domestique' embraces grunt work in Suns' tour de force
Admitting his sleep's "been sucking" during the Tour de France, Alex Davies sheepishly felt like a domestique in his AFL return for Gold Coast. A fan of Tadej Pogacar, who claimed a fourth Tour title on Sunday, the big-bodied Davies insists he can be the footballing equivalent of the Slovenian star and win his own ball. The 23-year-old's 30 touches and 10 tackles in the Suns' historic 66-point defeat of the Brisbane Lions on Saturday showed that. But it was the 191cm midfielder's work on Josh Dunkley - designed to free Suns star Matt Rowell - that he was picked for. And Davies delivered as a footballing domestique - French for servant - as best-on-ground Rowell finished with 37 touches, 15 clearances and 12 tackles. "Domestique," Davies offered with a laugh, when asked if he felt like a Suns hit-man or bodyguard. "My sleep's been so bad, been sucking (while watching the Tour). "But yeh, a big body ... helping Rowelly. But I can get my own footy ... I can play my own game; I know what I can do." Davies played just seven AFL games in Hardwick's first year at the club in 2024 and had to settle for VFL domination this season until getting the call-up on Saturday. The Suns' midfield is stacked with Rowell, injured Touk Miller and captain Noah Anderson well supported by Bailey Humphrey and emerging trio Will Graham, Leo Lombard and Jake Rogers. Contracted until the end of next season, Davies said he was "shocked" to read reports last week that he was open to an earlier move to a rival club for greater opportunities. But, while insistent he was settled and happy at Carrara, the Cairns product didn't deny it. "All my mates sent it to me and I was like, 'What's going on?'," he said of the report. "The job at hand is getting to finals because it's a special opportunity we have right now and all I'm thinking about." Hardwick admitted Davies' selection was partly a horses for courses approach against a Lions midfield that had overpowered his own in recent outings. "The definition of insanity is … we didn't want to be having the same conversation if we lost the same way," he said, having also recalled Jy Farrar and Nick Holman. "It's taken me a bit of time to understand what that looks like against Brisbane. "They all stood up ... he's (Davies) only starting to understand what he may be and get an understanding of where he can end up." With the Suns now on the cusp of a maiden finals campaign - and potentially a top-four finish - Davies may be cottoning on to what's possible quicker than Hardwick realises. "A win like that ... it's pretty big and beating Brisbane, it's a big challenge," he said ahead of Saturday's clash with Richmond. "If we can do that .. we can go anywhere." Admitting his sleep's "been sucking" during the Tour de France, Alex Davies sheepishly felt like a domestique in his AFL return for Gold Coast. A fan of Tadej Pogacar, who claimed a fourth Tour title on Sunday, the big-bodied Davies insists he can be the footballing equivalent of the Slovenian star and win his own ball. The 23-year-old's 30 touches and 10 tackles in the Suns' historic 66-point defeat of the Brisbane Lions on Saturday showed that. But it was the 191cm midfielder's work on Josh Dunkley - designed to free Suns star Matt Rowell - that he was picked for. And Davies delivered as a footballing domestique - French for servant - as best-on-ground Rowell finished with 37 touches, 15 clearances and 12 tackles. "Domestique," Davies offered with a laugh, when asked if he felt like a Suns hit-man or bodyguard. "My sleep's been so bad, been sucking (while watching the Tour). "But yeh, a big body ... helping Rowelly. But I can get my own footy ... I can play my own game; I know what I can do." Davies played just seven AFL games in Hardwick's first year at the club in 2024 and had to settle for VFL domination this season until getting the call-up on Saturday. The Suns' midfield is stacked with Rowell, injured Touk Miller and captain Noah Anderson well supported by Bailey Humphrey and emerging trio Will Graham, Leo Lombard and Jake Rogers. Contracted until the end of next season, Davies said he was "shocked" to read reports last week that he was open to an earlier move to a rival club for greater opportunities. But, while insistent he was settled and happy at Carrara, the Cairns product didn't deny it. "All my mates sent it to me and I was like, 'What's going on?'," he said of the report. "The job at hand is getting to finals because it's a special opportunity we have right now and all I'm thinking about." Hardwick admitted Davies' selection was partly a horses for courses approach against a Lions midfield that had overpowered his own in recent outings. "The definition of insanity is … we didn't want to be having the same conversation if we lost the same way," he said, having also recalled Jy Farrar and Nick Holman. "It's taken me a bit of time to understand what that looks like against Brisbane. "They all stood up ... he's (Davies) only starting to understand what he may be and get an understanding of where he can end up." With the Suns now on the cusp of a maiden finals campaign - and potentially a top-four finish - Davies may be cottoning on to what's possible quicker than Hardwick realises. "A win like that ... it's pretty big and beating Brisbane, it's a big challenge," he said ahead of Saturday's clash with Richmond. "If we can do that .. we can go anywhere." Admitting his sleep's "been sucking" during the Tour de France, Alex Davies sheepishly felt like a domestique in his AFL return for Gold Coast. A fan of Tadej Pogacar, who claimed a fourth Tour title on Sunday, the big-bodied Davies insists he can be the footballing equivalent of the Slovenian star and win his own ball. The 23-year-old's 30 touches and 10 tackles in the Suns' historic 66-point defeat of the Brisbane Lions on Saturday showed that. But it was the 191cm midfielder's work on Josh Dunkley - designed to free Suns star Matt Rowell - that he was picked for. And Davies delivered as a footballing domestique - French for servant - as best-on-ground Rowell finished with 37 touches, 15 clearances and 12 tackles. "Domestique," Davies offered with a laugh, when asked if he felt like a Suns hit-man or bodyguard. "My sleep's been so bad, been sucking (while watching the Tour). "But yeh, a big body ... helping Rowelly. But I can get my own footy ... I can play my own game; I know what I can do." Davies played just seven AFL games in Hardwick's first year at the club in 2024 and had to settle for VFL domination this season until getting the call-up on Saturday. The Suns' midfield is stacked with Rowell, injured Touk Miller and captain Noah Anderson well supported by Bailey Humphrey and emerging trio Will Graham, Leo Lombard and Jake Rogers. Contracted until the end of next season, Davies said he was "shocked" to read reports last week that he was open to an earlier move to a rival club for greater opportunities. But, while insistent he was settled and happy at Carrara, the Cairns product didn't deny it. "All my mates sent it to me and I was like, 'What's going on?'," he said of the report. "The job at hand is getting to finals because it's a special opportunity we have right now and all I'm thinking about." Hardwick admitted Davies' selection was partly a horses for courses approach against a Lions midfield that had overpowered his own in recent outings. "The definition of insanity is … we didn't want to be having the same conversation if we lost the same way," he said, having also recalled Jy Farrar and Nick Holman. "It's taken me a bit of time to understand what that looks like against Brisbane. "They all stood up ... he's (Davies) only starting to understand what he may be and get an understanding of where he can end up." With the Suns now on the cusp of a maiden finals campaign - and potentially a top-four finish - Davies may be cottoning on to what's possible quicker than Hardwick realises. "A win like that ... it's pretty big and beating Brisbane, it's a big challenge," he said ahead of Saturday's clash with Richmond. "If we can do that .. we can go anywhere."
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
'Domestique' embraces grunt work in Suns' tour de force
Admitting his sleep's "been sucking" during the Tour de France, Alex Davies sheepishly felt like a domestique in his AFL return for Gold Coast. A fan of Tadej Pogacar, who claimed a fourth Tour title on Sunday, the big-bodied Davies insists he can be the footballing equivalent of the Slovenian star and win his own ball. The 23-year-old's 30 touches and 10 tackles in the Suns' historic 66-point defeat of the Brisbane Lions on Saturday showed that. But it was the 191cm midfielder's work on Josh Dunkley - designed to free Suns star Matt Rowell - that he was picked for. And Davies delivered as a footballing domestique - French for servant - as best-on-ground Rowell finished with 37 touches, 15 clearances and 12 tackles. "Domestique," Davies offered with a laugh, when asked if he felt like a Suns hit-man or bodyguard. "My sleep's been so bad, been sucking (while watching the Tour). "But yeh, a big body ... helping Rowelly. But I can get my own footy ... I can play my own game; I know what I can do." Davies played just seven AFL games in Hardwick's first year at the club in 2024 and had to settle for VFL domination this season until getting the call-up on Saturday. The Suns' midfield is stacked with Rowell, injured Touk Miller and captain Noah Anderson well supported by Bailey Humphrey and emerging trio Will Graham, Leo Lombard and Jake Rogers. Contracted until the end of next season, Davies said he was "shocked" to read reports last week that he was open to an earlier move to a rival club for greater opportunities. But, while insistent he was settled and happy at Carrara, the Cairns product didn't deny it. "All my mates sent it to me and I was like, 'What's going on?'," he said of the report. "The job at hand is getting to finals because it's a special opportunity we have right now and all I'm thinking about." Hardwick admitted Davies' selection was partly a horses for courses approach against a Lions midfield that had overpowered his own in recent outings. "The definition of insanity is … we didn't want to be having the same conversation if we lost the same way," he said, having also recalled Jy Farrar and Nick Holman. "It's taken me a bit of time to understand what that looks like against Brisbane. "They all stood up ... he's (Davies) only starting to understand what he may be and get an understanding of where he can end up." With the Suns now on the cusp of a maiden finals campaign - and potentially a top-four finish - Davies may be cottoning on to what's possible quicker than Hardwick realises. "A win like that ... it's pretty big and beating Brisbane, it's a big challenge," he said ahead of Saturday's clash with Richmond. "If we can do that .. we can go anywhere."
The Advertiser
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Finals beckon, but Suns keep their Witts about them
Jarrod Witts' rucking wares are being heralded as All-Australian worthy, while Gold Coast, in reach of a top-four finish, keep their feet in new AFL territory. The Suns' historic 66-point QClash victory on Saturday gave them, with five regular-season games to play, a club-best 12th win this season. Four of those games come against teams not in finals contention, leaving the Suns in the hunt for a top-four finish in what would be their maiden post-season foray. Witts, two games shy of his 200th AFL game, has been critical in that run. The 32-year-old helped turn the screws against the Brisbane Lions on Saturday as the Suns' midfield upstaged the Lions' for their biggest QClash win. Unprompted, Hardwick launched a campaign for the ruckman post-game. "Can I make a statement about Jarrod Witts? Can we start having a conversation?" he posed when asked about the performance of Witts' star on-ballers Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson. "I watched TV the other day, they had a list of ruckmen that are in the mix. Go and have a look at what our guy's done to all those guys." Before Saturday, Witts had collected the seventh-most coaches' votes of all ruckmen, his 26 dwarfed by leaders Brodie Grundy (65) and Max Gawn (59). "Have the conversation about how good this guy's become,": Hardwick said. "These guys (Suns midfielders) should be buying him coffee every day. Unbelievable. "I'd love to have him as All-Australian … I wouldn't pick another one." The Suns play Richmond, Carlton, GWS, Essendon and Port Adelaide in the run to a potential first finals campaign. Only the Giants are a shot of joining them, although emotion will be high when the Power play their final game under long-time mentor Ken Hinkley. "It is every side's challenge, isn't it," Hardwick said. "The sides we are talking about, they are going to have their moments and they are going to play well. "At various stages we haven't beaten those sides we should have beaten and that is going to be our next challenge. "If we concentrate firmly on the next shift, where our feet are right now, we are going to be OK." Jarrod Witts' rucking wares are being heralded as All-Australian worthy, while Gold Coast, in reach of a top-four finish, keep their feet in new AFL territory. The Suns' historic 66-point QClash victory on Saturday gave them, with five regular-season games to play, a club-best 12th win this season. Four of those games come against teams not in finals contention, leaving the Suns in the hunt for a top-four finish in what would be their maiden post-season foray. Witts, two games shy of his 200th AFL game, has been critical in that run. The 32-year-old helped turn the screws against the Brisbane Lions on Saturday as the Suns' midfield upstaged the Lions' for their biggest QClash win. Unprompted, Hardwick launched a campaign for the ruckman post-game. "Can I make a statement about Jarrod Witts? Can we start having a conversation?" he posed when asked about the performance of Witts' star on-ballers Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson. "I watched TV the other day, they had a list of ruckmen that are in the mix. Go and have a look at what our guy's done to all those guys." Before Saturday, Witts had collected the seventh-most coaches' votes of all ruckmen, his 26 dwarfed by leaders Brodie Grundy (65) and Max Gawn (59). "Have the conversation about how good this guy's become,": Hardwick said. "These guys (Suns midfielders) should be buying him coffee every day. Unbelievable. "I'd love to have him as All-Australian … I wouldn't pick another one." The Suns play Richmond, Carlton, GWS, Essendon and Port Adelaide in the run to a potential first finals campaign. Only the Giants are a shot of joining them, although emotion will be high when the Power play their final game under long-time mentor Ken Hinkley. "It is every side's challenge, isn't it," Hardwick said. "The sides we are talking about, they are going to have their moments and they are going to play well. "At various stages we haven't beaten those sides we should have beaten and that is going to be our next challenge. "If we concentrate firmly on the next shift, where our feet are right now, we are going to be OK." Jarrod Witts' rucking wares are being heralded as All-Australian worthy, while Gold Coast, in reach of a top-four finish, keep their feet in new AFL territory. The Suns' historic 66-point QClash victory on Saturday gave them, with five regular-season games to play, a club-best 12th win this season. Four of those games come against teams not in finals contention, leaving the Suns in the hunt for a top-four finish in what would be their maiden post-season foray. Witts, two games shy of his 200th AFL game, has been critical in that run. The 32-year-old helped turn the screws against the Brisbane Lions on Saturday as the Suns' midfield upstaged the Lions' for their biggest QClash win. Unprompted, Hardwick launched a campaign for the ruckman post-game. "Can I make a statement about Jarrod Witts? Can we start having a conversation?" he posed when asked about the performance of Witts' star on-ballers Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson. "I watched TV the other day, they had a list of ruckmen that are in the mix. Go and have a look at what our guy's done to all those guys." Before Saturday, Witts had collected the seventh-most coaches' votes of all ruckmen, his 26 dwarfed by leaders Brodie Grundy (65) and Max Gawn (59). "Have the conversation about how good this guy's become,": Hardwick said. "These guys (Suns midfielders) should be buying him coffee every day. Unbelievable. "I'd love to have him as All-Australian … I wouldn't pick another one." The Suns play Richmond, Carlton, GWS, Essendon and Port Adelaide in the run to a potential first finals campaign. Only the Giants are a shot of joining them, although emotion will be high when the Power play their final game under long-time mentor Ken Hinkley. "It is every side's challenge, isn't it," Hardwick said. "The sides we are talking about, they are going to have their moments and they are going to play well. "At various stages we haven't beaten those sides we should have beaten and that is going to be our next challenge. "If we concentrate firmly on the next shift, where our feet are right now, we are going to be OK."
