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By Michael Whiting
Gold Coast SUNS are remaining tight-lipped on whether Nathan Bock will play forward or back as the key position star returns from a two-match suspension against Essendon on Saturday.
Bock missed the opening fortnight of the season after serving a suspension for releasing information about his position ahead of last year's round 24 fixture against Hawthorn.
The All Australian defender played forward on that occasion and a betting plunge on him as first goalkicker resulted in a substantial windfall for a number of punters.
Bock and the GC SUNS are doing their best to ensure lightning does not strike twice.
He has played the entire pre-season in the forward line, but when asked about his likely starting position against the Bombers, the GC SUNS vice-captain and assistant coach Dean Solomon were coy.
"Not sure at the moment," Bock said.
Solomon gave more of a hint without totally committing.
"Can't tell you," he said. "We'd like a couple of him, [it would] be handy. Depends how we structure up.
"Young Lynchy (Tom Lynch) went down back last week and went OK so we might look at him down back and it might allow Bocky to go forward at times."
The defensive coach admitted Bock's role might be a week-by-week proposition.
"The most important thing at the moment is to settle the side down," he said.
"Whether that's forward or back, we haven't finished those discussions yet. No doubt we could probably do with a couple of Bocky at the moment, a mature head to settle the side down and get us back on track."
Whichever end of the ground the 29-year-old plays, he is a welcome return for the GC SUNS who have lost by 69 and 92 points respectively to Adelaide and St Kilda.
Bock said watching from the grandstand had been frustrating.
"I was obviously aware I was going to miss the first two weeks ... to watch the boys go through a couple of big losses like they have has been a bit frustrating but obviously I'm excited to get out there this week," he said.
"I think I'll just go out there and play my role and do what I normally do and provide my bit for the team and hopefully we can start being competitive.
"I'm sure the boys want to bounce back and earn some respect and not only against Essendon but amongst the footy world. Our first two performances this year have been a bit below par and I think we really want to respond."
Solomon said Essendon would provide a stiff test for Gold Coast in an area it had been struggling.
"I don't think they're going as well as they'd like to be going, but there's no doubt they're priding themselves on the contested footy and that's getting the result at the moment," he said.
"On the back of what we've dished up the last couple of weeks that's the big challenge for us to match them in that area."
