Out-of-favour pair Trent McKenzie and Brandon Matera headline a host of inclusions for the Gold Coast SUNS' clash with Geelong at Simonds Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
After being dropped for the St Kilda game, McKenzie comes straight back into the SUNS' 25-man squad. Matera has been overlooked in the first two games of the season, but after strong form in the NEAFL, he has forced his way back into Rodney Eade’s side.
Two disappointing losses to begin the season have been amplified by a handful of injuries forcing Gary Ablett (shoulder), Mitch Hallahan (ribs), Jarrod Harbrow (shoulder) and Greg Broughton (achilles) out of this weekend’s trip to Geelong.
Alex Sexton has also been rubbed out for one-game following an incident with St Kilda’s Jack Lonie.
Daniel Gorringe and Matt Shaw have also been named in the squad to face Geelong after missing last weekend’s loss to the Saints at Metricon Stadium.
Aaron Hall, Jesse Lonergan and Tom Nicholls are in contention for their first senior appearances of the season after being included in the extended squad.
After quelling Geelong spearhead Tom Hawkins in the SUNS NAB Challenge clash in March, Henry Schade has also been named in Eade’s squad. Schade suffered an ankle injury in the closing stages of that game in Townsville, but has performed well in the NEAFL in recent weeks and is in line for an AFL debut.
Adam Saad, Touk Miller and Jarrod Garlett all look set to play their third consecutive games since debuting in round one.
Round 3 AFL Premiership Squad
B: T. McKenzie, R. Thompson, S. Lemmens
HB: S. Tape, S. May, A. Saad
C: K. Kolodjashnij, D. Prestia, N. Malceski
HF: A. Hall, S. Day, B. Matera
F: T. Miller, T. Lynch, H. Bennell
R: Z. Smith, M. Rischitelli, D. Swallow
INT: J. Martin, D. Gorringe, H. Schade, T. Nicholls, M. Shaw, J. Lonergan, J. Garlett
IN: T. McKenzie, M. Shaw, T. Nicholls, B. Matera, D. Gorringe, H. Schade, J. Lonergan, A. Hall
OUT: A. Sexton (suspended), G. Ablett (injured), M. Hallahan (injured), G. Broughton (injured), J. Harbrow (injured)
