‘Glue guy’: hardman looks to make sliding Suns stick
Murray Wenzel |
Gold Coast will channel the hard-knock career of unfashionable forward Nick Holman as the stalling Suns navigate what coach Damien Hardwick thinks is an inevitable rite of passage.
Hardwick’s side slumped to 7-7 on Friday after a fourth-straight loss, with Hawthorn’s 16-point win built on centre clearance dominance and three ruthless, quick-fire runs of goals.
Holman, 31, was recalled for his third game this year, kicking a late goal and providing trademark pressure and composure in his 150th AFL game.
His recall followed a week in which the Suns attracted arguably unprecedented scrutiny regarding team harmony and the future of star players.
“We’re under the blowtorch, we know people are talking about us and just want to get back to winning … but we’ll keep rocking up,” Holman told AAP after, for once, not finishing a contest with his forehead bloodied and bandaged.
Holman played nine games across two seasons for Carlton between 2014-15 before waiting two full seasons for his next start at the Suns in 2018.
A swathe of role players have departed as Hardwick ushers in draft picks and academy talents, but Holman remains and even if not picked to play table-topping Fremantle in Perth next week, feels he is influential.
“We’ve got a lot of talented players, very skilful but I can come in and add a bit of grunt, put a bit of pressure on, and get the boys playing well,” he said.
“I’m not super talented, not fast, not powerful so had to find other ways to impact at this level and that was by trying to be the best defensive forward in the competition.
“We’ve got lots of guys that crack in and we took a step in the right direction.”
Hardwick this week batted away suggestions of internal tension as normal, “big boy conversations” that happen at aspirational clubs.
“It’s a privilege; it means you’re someone, you’re something,” he said.
“If there was no blowtorch it means you’re not … people are expecting more from us.
“This is the place you want to be. Every side goes through this and now it’s our turn.
“We have to bounce back … let’s see what we’ve got.”
He said Holman was central to that and had immediately rubbed off on players like impressive Friday night debutant Beau Addinsall.
“He’s one of those glue guys that holds a club together, makes footy clubs great,” the coach said.
“We joked this week, he’s had 149 games and had 149 match payments … effectively been on a one-year deal his whole career.
“He’s hard, he’s tough, exactly what we want our players to be.
“And we played with the heart and spirit that Nick does.”
AAP