AFL legend Malcolm Blight believes Gary Ablettโs exit from Gold Coast back to Geelong has been a blessing in disguise for the Suns.
Many thought Gold Coast would fall even lower down the ladder after Ablett walked out on the club, but they have started the season with two wins in a row for just the second time in the clubโs history.
Blight told SENโs Whateley on Thursday morning, that what was a struggling midfield with not much A-grade talent outside of Ablett, has improved because they can no longer rely on him.
โGary Ablett Jr is one of my all-time favourite players (but) I just wonder now with their midfield. I thought they might struggle a bit, but what theyโre all doing is theyโre all chipping in,โ Blight said.
โThey have got an even spread through thereโฆThey all take the responsibility of five to ten per cent more so theyโre giving the forwards more chance.
โIf you give a guy like Tom Lynch a chance, youโre going to get some goals kicked on you.
โThe others there are not babies. Aaron Hall is 26, Jarryd Lyons, the lad from Adelaide, is 25 and David Swallow is finally going to play his 100th game after all those injuries.
โThere is just a nice mix in that midfield, Steven May is a jet down back, youโve got Tom Lynch up forward and Sam Day back in helps.
โStuart Dew has obviously got them all singing the same hymn.โ
The Suns will spend an extended period of time in Perth over the coming weeks as they play two matches in a row at Optus Stadium.
With their home ground, Metricon Stadium, being occupied for the Commonwealth games, Gold Coast will not get a home game for the first 11 rounds of the season.
The two-time premiership winning coach said while the travel doesnโt seem to have affected the team yet, it will take its toll on them eventually.
โThe 11 away games at the start of the season was always going to be their Achilles heel and it still might be,โ Blight said.
โTheyโre in Perth for the next ten days because theyโre playing two games there. Teams have tried this over the years and I think it is 0-28. I think the great Brisbane team might have done it at one stage.
โYou live out of a suitcase and live abnormally for 10 days. I get why youโre doing it instead of going backwards and forwards, but I donโt think it has ever worked. It leaves a horrible taste.
โAfter these next two weeks in Perth, if they can win both of them, look out.โ
Gold Coast will look to go 3-0 against Fremantle on Saturday afternoon at Optus Stadium.
