Tune into SUNS TV for more

By Michael Whiting

In the likelihood of Gary Ablett not playing against Fremantle on Saturday, Gold Coast SUNS must again prove it can stand on its own without the Brownlow medallist.

The skipper was not at the SUNS recovery session on Monday morning, and despite hoping he could defy the initial two to four week prognosis on his injured knee, the club is not so hopeful.

However, mature-age rookie Kyal Horsley said Saturday's 34-point loss against North Melbourne proved the SUNS could perform without him.

"It'd be better to have Gary there of course but to play without him and play well is key - and when he comes back he'll add so much," Horsley said.

"A win [against North Melbourne] would have been nice but I think we were competitive for most of the game, just a couple of lapses and they got a run on.

"We really needed all 21 players out there and 22 players in the team to do their role defensively and cover for him. It was a good effort but not good enough."

Michael Rischitelli's condition has improved dramatically since rolling his ankle at training last Wednesday, but is also touch-and-go to play Freo.

West Australian Horsley was one of the beneficiaries of the SUNS lack of experience on Saturday, stepping in to make his debut.

The 24-year-old had 19 disposals and eight tackles in a polished display and said he was looking forward to playing Fremantle.

"I've got a couple of close mates at Fremantle like Greg Broughton, so hopefully I get picked and it'd be nice to play against them," Horsley said.

"They're an extremely good side, a lot of talented players and with [coach] Ross Lyon and his game-plan there, they're doing really well."

The SUNS signed Horsley after he starred for Subiaco in the WAFL last season, finishing second in the Sandover Medal.

"Once you get to 22 or 23 you think your time's over but with the extension of the AFL with the two new clubs in I guess it was the perfect time to be mature age and get an opportunity," Horsley said.

Gold Coast SUNS football operations manager Marcus Ashcroft said Horsley's first-up showing was exceptional.

"He was fantastic. He's shown that form in the reserves but it's always hard to know whether that will translate to AFL because it's a big jump up," Ashcroft said.

"We were rapt the way he went about it. He was strong, he was penetrating with his disposal and he gave us real run and direction."