After emerging from a disappointing first half of the year, Gold Coast has produced a strong month of football, to suggest they are close to regaining the form that saw the Suns win the opening three games of 2016.

For the second consecutive season, Rodney Eade’s side has been decimated by injury, with a handful of the Suns’ best players missing large chunks and some missing the year all together.

Star midfielders Jaeger O’Meara (ruptured patella tendon) and David Swallow (PCL) haven’t played a game yet in 2016, while key defender Rory Thompson has played just five games and Steven May missed five games due to suspension.

After winning their opening three games of the year, Gold Coast hasn’t won a game since early April, losing their last ten games to sit in 16^th position on the ladder, two games clear of Brisbane and Essendon.

With troops returning in the last month, Gold Coast’s form has improved without recording wins. The Suns pushed Sydney in a hard slog at Metricon Stadium in Round 11, before victory slipped through their hands at the MCG against Richmond a week later.

In Tasmania last weekend, a vintage performance from dual Brownlow medallist Gary Ablett wasn’t enough to drag the Suns across the line. Despite leading for the entire first-half, the Suns were eventually overrun by 28-points against the Hawks.

In one of his best performances since overcoming a shoulder reconstruction in 2014, Gold Coast captain Ablett flaunted his brilliance in Launceston. The little master collected 40 disposals, 25 contested possessions and 15 clearances – phenomenal numbers.

The three-time Gold Coast club champion has played all but one game in 2016 and is averaging 27.9 possessions (13.3 contested), 7.4 clearances, 6.7 tackles and 480.3 metres gained per game.

While the Suns don’t have O’Meara and Swallow at their disposal, Dion Prestia has been a consistent force in the midfield and Aaron Hall returned last weekend to provide drive between the arcs. Experienced duo Matt Rosa and Michael Rischitelli have also provided a consistent output on a weekly basis.

There’s no hiding from the fact the Suns have been weakened by the absence of O’Meara and Swallow, take two of the best midfielders out of any team and the flow on effect is damaging. The Suns are ranked 18^th in the competition for disposals differential (-41.9), inside 50 differential (-14.0) and 15^th for clearances differential (-3.3) and contested ball differential (-10.4).

Despite a lack of opportunities, key forward Tom Lynch has ascended into superstardom this season. With the Queensland landscape being far removed from traditional footy states, it’s taken time for some to catch on to his dominance.

Although he has taken another step this season, Lynch won Gold Coast’s best and fairest last year and narrowly finished second the season earlier. So this rise has been building for years.

Inside 50, the Suns are blessed with some strong marking targets, with former pick No. 8 Peter Wright and former pick No. 3 Sam Day working alongside Lynch up forward. Since coming into the team in Round 5, Wright has played all but one game, producing two three goal efforts and two sets of two.

While star defender May hasn’t quite reached the heights of last season, which saw him finish on the podium in the club champion, his form across the last three weeks has reflected his own sides improvement.

He held Coleman medal leader Lance Franklin to three marks and one goal, before holding Jack Riewoldt and Jack Gunston to a goal each. Widely regarded as one of the best young key defenders in the land, May and Lynch are Gold Coast’s marquee bookends that should propel them back up the ladder in the coming years.

Star:

Finally, after going unnoticed in football rich markets, budding superstar Tom Lynch is getting the plaudits he deserves. The competitive animal is the Suns’ next captain in waiting and on track for a maiden All Australian guernsey this season. The centre-half forward won Gold Coast’s best and fairest last season and has again been the club’s best player in 2016, with 42.14 next to his name and an average of 14.2 possessions and 6.4 marks. After inking a two-year extension in April, Lynch has continued his ascension this year, with improved accuracy paving the way to a heathier output on the scoreboard. And only a few weekends ago, he did what many haven't been able to do and comprehensively beat dual All Australian key defender Alex Rance, booting four goals on the Tigers star.

Medical Room:

Budding young guns Kade Kolodjashnij, Callum Ah Chee and Jack Martin are all set to return against St Kilda on Saturday. 2015 club champion runner up Kolodjashnij has overcome delayed concussion symptoms following a sickening head knock in Round 12. While 2015 top-ten pick Ah Chee will come back in for his eighth game after missing with a calf and highly rated midfielder-forward Jack Martin is also back after missing last weekend due to a back injury. Defender Trent McKenzie won’t face the Saints after straining a quad against Hawthorn in Tasmania. 

Limited Edition History Book: Celebrating 50 Years 1966-2016 The Archives Edition