Page 31 - AFL QUEENSLAND 2013 YEAR IN REVIEW

The Gold Coast SUNS’ 2013 season was regarded as an overwhelming success.
The team more than doubled its number of wins, from three in 2011 and 2012 to eight, including six wins at Metricon Stadium.
The victories at home are of significant importance. Winning more than half of the team’s games at home meant GC SUNS fans arrived at Metricon Stadium in 2013, not just expecting a contest, but believing the side could win.
But it is the numbers behind the victories that emphasise the progress gained.
GOLD COAST SUNS GROWTH 2011 - 2013
The improvement at both ends of the ground saw the GC SUNS’ percentage jump from 56.3% in 2011 and 60.8% in 2012 to 91.7% in 2013.
The stat that indicates the team’s overall improvement, however, is the fact that in both 2011 and 2012, the team was defeated by 60 points or more on nine occasions. In 2013, the team never suffered a defeat of that magnitude.
Highlighting the impact that injuries had on the team in 2013, McKenna declared prior to the season that he believed he had a core group of 35 players that he intended to play, however, the GC SUNS played 42 players in 2013.
GC SUNS DOMINATE AFL AWARDS SEASON
ABLETT WINS BROWNLOW
Gold Coast skipper Gary Ablett claimed his second Brownlow Medal in September, with a best-on-ground performance against Greater Western Sydney in the final round officially confirming his standing as one of the all-time greats of the game.
Ablett polled 28 votes to finish one vote
ahead of Geelong skipper Joel Selwood, with Collingwood’s Dane Swan a further vote back on 26.
Ablett previously won the medal with Geelong in 2009 and becomes the fifth player to win the
medal with two clubs.
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STAT
SEASON 2013
SEASON 2012
SEASON 2011
GAMES WON
8
3
3
QUARTERS WON
38
26
22
AVG SCORE FOR
87pts (15th)
68pts (17th)
69pts (17th)
AVG SCORE AGST
95pts (12th)
112pts (17th)
124pts (17th)
PERCENTAGE
91.7% (13th)
60.8% (17th)
56.3% (17th)
AVG LOSING MARGIN
31pts
53pts
64pts
>60PTS LOSSES
0
9
9
PLAYERS USED
42
44
46
GC SUNS coach Guy McKenna has constantly preached that his goal was to have his side compete for longer.
In 2013, the GC SUNS won 38 quarters, up from 12 on 2012.
To win more games and quarters the GC SUNS on average scored three or more goals a match in 2013 than in previous seasons.
However it wasn’t just scoring more that allowed the SUNS to improve. The team also restricted their opponents to, on average, 95 points a game, down from 112 points in 2012 and 124 points in 2011.
GOLD COAST SUNS REPORT