Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew says first round draft pick Noah Anderson has been amazing but has flown under the radar, something his emerging AFL team won’t be able to do this week.
The Suns 32- point win over Sydney at the SCG on Saturday propelled them back into the top eight.
It was a timely tonic for the Suns after successive losses and going into their first prime time television appearance on Thursday against the Bulldogs at Metricon Stadium.
“Hopefully it speaks to the brand of football we’re playing, an exciting brand of football and we’ve got some players that we think people would like to watch play footy,” Dew said.
‘”Although it’s a Thursday night game and hopefully everyone is watching, it’s going to be just another game and it’s in five days time against a team who is red hot.”
The Suns will again showcase some of the best young talent in the competition including 19 year-old Anderson, who has played in all seven games.
Gold Coast scored three Rising Star nominations over the first six rounds through midfielder Matt Rowell, defender Connor Budarick and forward Izak Raknin, though Rowell is now injured.
Anderson, who was the No.2 pick in last year’s draft behind Rowell, has yet to get a Rising Star nod, but his smooth adjustment to senior football has been noted by his coach.
“Noah has been amazing and clearly we know Buddars, and Izak and Rowelly have been fantastic and been nominated,” Dew said.
“Noah has sort of gone under that radar, but he’s been so consistent and tonight he was tough and hard.
“There was a tackle there on Luke Parker, which having seen Luke play a lot, that doesn’t happen often.
“He’s having a real impact at this footy club and we love the way he’s going about it.
“He probably plays so mature people forget he’s a first year player.”
Rankin followed up his three-goal haul on debut with two more at the SCG, including another opportunistic effort off the ground.
“He doesn’t fluke it, he practices those things,” Dew said.
Dew, who signed a contract extension earlier in the week, applauded the selflessness of some of his players.
Promising key forward Ben King had just three touches against Sydney, but earned plaudits from his coach.
‘We’re not interested how the stat sheet looks for him, but he really played well on Dane Rampe and rarely got outmarked, if at all,” Dew said.
