Richmond assistant coach Justin Leppitsch provides ‘Roar Vision’ with a snapshot of Gold Coast’s main attributes ahead of this Saturday night’s clash at Metricon Stadium.

Key match-up: Nankervis v Witts

“Probably the height difference is the big thing . . . Witts, at 209cm, is a big man. Hopefully Toby’s second-up work will be the difference. It’s very hard to get over a man like Witts, so we’ve got to be conscious we don’t give them first use . . . It does help when you’re that tall, but he’s (Witts) good at hit-outs . . . (Ivan) Soldo is 205cm, and that extra tall ruckman has been helping us as well and giving Toby a bit of a rest.”

Suns’ impressive half-back transition

“They’ve got some elite back-half ball users now with Hanley down there, Saad, and Harbrow as well. Their handball’s elite, and in their best games they get their uncontested possession game going, and that’s really brought off their hands. Front-half pressure has been our strength, and their back-half transition’s been theirs, so it’s going to be an interesting little battle that one, in itself. 

Saad’s run-and-carry

“He’s an exciting player . . . You’ve really got to watch his hips and make sure he doesn’t get that double-up possession.”

Brilliant book-end captains (Lynch and May)

“They’re really reliant on them. When you’ve got elite players, at both ends of the ground, it really does help your structure. May sets them up really well and makes sure they get their defensive-half right. We have to make sure we’re good at lowering our eyes and using our options. And, if not, we’ve been really good at winning it back off that intercept possession. It’s going to be interesting with who can win that battle. And, obviously, Lynch is a terrific tall target to go to. When Lynch does get in trouble, he just gets up on the ground and uses that other strength of his game . . . With Dave (Astbury), ‘Rancey’ (Alex Rance) and ‘Grimesy’ (Dylan Grimes), that trio has been doing a really good job (for Richmond) on the opposition’s key forwards. So we’re really confident that we can get the same result again.” 

The Ablett influence

“He’s a freak, at 33 years of age, to still be doing what he’s doing. Obviously, he’s been in and out of the team the last few weeks, but he’s been playing mainly the home games. So, again, we expect him to play . . . You always have to put attention into Gary. He has that ability to get in and out of traffic and use his hands to release others. And he can get a secondary possession, and sometimes a third. With his ability to get in and out of clearance, he gives the Suns that ability to get first use of the ball and lock it in their front half.”