His return to AFL football against the GWS Giants this weekend will go largely without any fanfare, however Michael Coad's elevation to the senior list is one of the best stories in the Gold Coast SUNS short history.

As you're about to read, Coad is a mature age rookie with unrivalled desire to compete on the AFL stage. He’s also one of the most determined and committed athletes Gold Coast SUNS strength and conditioning coach Andrew Weller has had the fortune to work with.

“It just shows if you have the dedication and are consistent in your approach that you can overcome a lot of obstacles in football and he is a fantastic story and for him to get back and play competitive football is an enormous effort and I don't think many athletes have done that at this level.”

SANFL Superstar Michael Coad began his AFL journey at the ripe old age of 26, the Sturt defender selected at pick number two in the 2009 Rookie Draft.

One of the SUNS VFL sides leading lights, Coad ‘s fearless approach to his footy certainly made him a favourite amongst his team mates and the SUNS coaching staff, however it would also result in him spending large portions of the season on the sidelines.

Coad recovered from serious internal injuries suffered in a heavy collision during the VFL season to earn his place in the Clubs inaugural AFL Premiership team and the signs were good with the then 27 year old showing the way for the Clubs long list of teenage debutants.

And then late in the SUNS round four encounter against Melbourne, Coad ripped his hamstring off the bone.

It was a season and potentially career ending injury according to Gold Coast SUNS strength and conditioning Coach Andrew Weller.

“The chances of guys coming back from those sorts of injuries are really slim and to be honest with you I really didn't know if he would get back to the level required to play AFL football after two hamstring ruptures on the same leg”

After undergoing major surgery and spending hundreds of hours in the hands of the SUNS medical team, Coad returned to full fitness and was building towards a first team recall when he ruptured his hamstring for the second time during the Clubs NEAFL game against the NT Thunder in Cairns.

Dejected and with his career once again in the balance, Coad made the decision to go back under the surgeon's knife.

“Early on in his rehab there was a lot of scar tissue around the injury site after consecutive ruptures and he had a few set backs and faced the uncertainty of whether he would get back to football. He worked tirelessly with our strength coach Chris Gaviglio and in the end has achieved what he set out to do. It is a testament to his dedication and professionalism.”

Earlier this week, Michael Coad was elevated to the senior list following a season ending injury to Vice Captain Nathan Bock and Coach Guy McKenna had little hesitation in naming him in the side to play the GWS Giants in Canberra on Saturday.

“We all know what Coady is capable of as a player, and the way he has taken on his role and continually improved with the Clubs NEAFL side made it a pretty simple decision in the end.” said McKenna.

“One thing we certainly know about Michael is that he understands what a privilege it is to play AFL for the Gold Coast SUNS, he’s had it, lost it through injury, and shown enormous passion and patience to get his body right and be ready when the opportunity knocked, that’s the sort of players we want pulling on the SUNS Guernsey each week.”

Wearing number 27 Coad will is likely play a key defensive roll for the SUNS.