Touk Miller is every chance to return to Gold Coast’s starting line-up following his late withdrawal against Hawthorn at the MCG.
The SUNS high half-forward was replaced by Jesse Lonergan prior to final team sheets, missing just his fifth AFL game in three years due to illness.
On Tuesday, GM of Football Operations – Marcus Ashcroft, spoke positively of Miller’s progress.
“Touk just needs to get through training this week, and if so should be available for senior selection on Saturday night,” he said in this week’s Optomo Injury Report.
Gold Coast also withdrew Callum Ah Chee on the eve of the Round 12 fixture, who was named to make his return to the elite level following a four-week stint on the sidelines as he nursed a back complaint.
The clever goal-sneak reported hamstring tightness at the captains run, paving the way for Ben Ainsworth to mark his comeback since going down in round two (severe corked quad).
But Ashcroft said Ah Chee was also a chance to be available for selection this week.
“Callum received some hamstring tightness in his last training session, and we had a really conservative approach to him being 100% so because he wasn’t we didn’t risk him on Saturday.
“He has pulled up really well this week and we expect him to be available this weekend.”
Meanwhile, Michael Rischitelli also enjoyed a successful return to competitive football, playing his first game in almost a year since rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament.
“It was good for ‘Rischa’, as we said last week it was 11 months that he’d been out with his AFL, and [he] played 60 minutes game time with the NEAFL team,” said Ashcroft.
“… For Michael’s point of view, he played really well and got through unscathed, and we look forward to him playing some more games through the NEAFL before he makes his long-awaited return to the senior team.”