CARLTON will head to Metricon Stadium tonight to take on the Gold Coast Suns. 

After emerging victorious from the Sunshine State last year, here’s what the Blues can expect in the 2018 instalment.

OVERVIEW

Ladder position: 17th

Won: 4

Lost: 13

Form: LLLLW

Average points for: 62

Average points against: 95

Leading goalkickers: Tom Lynch (20), Aaron Young (18), Alex Sexton (17), Jack Martin (14)

AGE BREAKDOWN FOR SATURDAY NIGHT (CARLTON IN BRACKETS)

Players aged 18-21: 7 (11)

Players aged 22-25: 11 (4)

Players aged 26-29: 2 (3)

Players aged 30+: 2 (4)

FORM

After 11 straight losses, you couldn’t write Gold Coast’s script last weekend.

The Suns produced one of the biggest upsets in recent memory, defeating Sydney at the SCG after trailing by five goals at quarter-time.

Aaron Young and Alex Sexton combined for seven goals, while Will Brodie showed his huge potential with 27 disposals and six tackles against Sydney’s star-studded midfield.

INJURY WATCH

The difference for Gold Coast the last time these two sides met, captain Tom Lynch won’t be featuring on Saturday night.

The tall forward played his last game for the year in Round 14, before succumbing to a troublesome knee injury.

Youngsters Callum Ah Chee (illness), Charlie Ballard (knee) and Brayden Crossley (cheekbone) are all out of the line-up which produced that famous victory against the Swans.

Jack Martin is also on the sidelines with a calf injury, while Sam Day (shoulder) and Aaron Hall (pectoral) will miss the rest of the season. 

GAME STYLE

The Suns triumphed last weekend with their ability to lock the ball in their forward half and generate repeat entries inside their forward 50.

Despite struggling for genuine scoring opportunities this season (ranked 17th in the AFL for inside 50s), the Suns went inside their forward line 61 times on the weekend.

This has been a feature of their four victories so far in 2018: they’ve eclipsed 50 inside 50s on six occasions, and have won four of those games. 

Their key pillars down back have also stood up under adversity. Steven May is ranked in the top 10 for average intercept possessions per game, while his uncompromising defensive partner Rory Thompson is ninth for one percenters.

THE QUERY

The Gold Coast Suns and Carlton have had similar issues so far in 2018, with both teams finding it difficult to register a winning score.

The two sides are ranked 17th and 18th respectively in points scored and inside 50s, while the Blues are only ranked ahead of the Suns for total disposals.

With so much young talent on show, it’ll be either side’s ability to get the game on their terms which could go a long way to deciding the result of this match.

Carlton will be hopeful of utilising their advantage at centre-bounce stoppages: the Blues are ranked fourth in the AFL, compared to Gold Coast in 18th.

THE DANGERMEN

High-profile recruit Lachie Weller is beginning to fire for the Gold Coast Suns after a difficult first season at his new club.

The former Docker — who the Suns traded pick two for — has recorded over 20 disposals in each of his last four games. He kicked two goals to go with his 23 disposals in a well-rounded performance against Sydney last week.

Jarrod Witts continues to go about his business as one of the most under-rated ruckman in the competition. 

He played a central role in the Round 2 fixture between these sides, and he recorded 56 hitouts last weekend: the third time he’s achieved over 50 this year. 

Young has been the Suns’ main exponent of goals in the absence of Lynch, with four goals against the Swans an equal career-high. He has averaged over a goal a game against the Blues.

FINAL WORDS FROM THE OPPOSITION

Gold Coast senior coach Stuart Dew said it was essential that his side didn’t rest on its laurels after its stirring victory last weekend.

“We know Carlton are coming with their best, everyone does so we’ll prepare for their best and make sure we’re not still living in the past,” Dew said.

“It’s about backing it up and not thinking that we’ve got there, or now we’ve done it.

“This week presents a great opportunity on the back of last week to keep that momentum.”