Even with out their midfield common Matt Rowell is backing Gold Coast’s engine room to match it with “benchmark” Melbourne.
How a Touk Miller-less Suns midfield fares in opposition to the Demons at Heritage Bank Stadium on Saturday will go a protracted approach to figuring out their destiny.
But Rowell thinks his sport has developed this yr and is eager to check it in opposition to an opposition he maintains has each base coated.
“You always look at who’s the benchmark in the league and in the midfield they’d be up there,” Rowell mentioned of the 5-2 Demons.
“We’ll do our homework and it’s great to be able to go up against them and see what we’ve got.”
With All-Australian Miller sidelined by a knee damage, the Suns will rotate numbers by the center to cope with Clayton Oliver, Christian Petracca, Angus Brayshaw and rucking tag-team Max Gawn and Brodie Grundy.
“They’ve got a lot of weapons in there and complement each other well,” Rowell mentioned.
“Some good ball getters that go and get it then some powerful players too who can break the line.
“Inside and out of doors, they’re fairly full.”
The Suns have won two straight games to improve to 3-4 and sit just one win outside the top eight, salvaging some ground after a worrisome 1-4 start.
“We wish to go up in opposition to the very best and take a look at ourselves and it is a nice problem,” Rowell mentioned.
“It was unhappy to see him (Miller) go down and bizarre final week, the primary time not taking part in with him.
“But (against Richmond last week) everyone in that midfield stood up, rose to the occasion and we’re going to have to do that for a lot of the rest of the year.”
Harrison Petty is again for Melbourne following per week on the sidelines with concussion.
Lachie Weller (knee) will go away a spot within the Suns’ defence whereas strain ahead Nick Holman and Ben Ainsworth (quad) will even miss the sport.
Brisbane recruit Tom Berry will make his membership debut for the Gold Coast whereas midfielder Sam Flanders additionally returns from a knee damage.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
