An 18-year-old “competitive beast” is dragging Gold Coast alongside as they go looking for one other AFL scalp in a vital two-week Darwin keep.
The Suns (4-6) play the Western Bulldogs (7-3) on Saturday at TIO Stadium and can stay within the Northern Territory to face Adelaide (5-5) the week after.
The fortnight will form the staff’s season, a maiden finals marketing campaign the expectation of a squad that completed two wins exterior the highest eight final yr.
Stuart Dew’s males beat Geelong earlier this yr and have pushed Melbourne and the Brisbane Lions with out injured captain and midfielder Touk Miller since then.
On a five-game successful streak, the on-song Bulldogs current one other likelihood for the Suns to show their mettle.
“They’re a quality outfit and we have been playing and matching it with the best,” Ben Ainsworth advised AAP.
“Had three quality quarters against Brisbane … only a couple of weeks ago we matched it with Melbourne.
“(Without Miller) the duty has been not do something outlandish, simply play our roles and we have been doing that to an ideal degree.”
Helping that’s been the emergence of 18-year-old No.6 draft pick Bailey Humphrey, a Gippsland product who grew up a 10-minute drive from Morwell’s Ainsworth in Moe.
Humphrey won a Rising Star nomination in Gold Coast’s big win over West Coast then backed it up with a blistering effort against a stacked Brisbane midfield.
The teenager took it to the Lions at their Gabba stronghold and had some early dominance before finishing with 26 disposals, seven score involvements, 617 metres gained and seven inside 50s.
“He’s a Moe boy, however Morwell’s loads nicer, mate,” Ainsworth grinned.
“He’s a ripping fella, enjoying terrific footy.
“Ever since he walked in the door he was a competitive beast and he keeps showing that.
“He dragged a variety of blokes together with him final week. In his first yr, that is unimaginable to see.
“He’s wise beyond his years and he knows what it takes to maintain it. It’s only the beginning for him.”
Jason Johannisen (hamstring) is the one out for the Bulldogs, whereas Darwin product Joel Jeffrey has earnt a recall for the Suns.
Jeffrey kicked 5 objectives in opposition to the Dogs final yr earlier than serving to Gold Coast to massive wins over Hawthorn and North Melbourne of their Darwin keep in 2022.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
