After narrowly missing senior selection last week, Nicholls strong NEAFL form has resulted in a much anticipated call up to coach Guy McKenna’s top 22, the 201cm giant set to start in the centre circle where he’ll playa key role in providing the GC SUNS mid-fielders with valuable possession.
GC SUNS General Manager of Football Operations – Marcus Ashcroft saying Nicholls was deserved of his boarding pass on the flight south after being named as an emergency for consecutive weeks.
“Tommy has developed strongly through the NEAFL and it was hard to ignore him from the team after the form he’s shown with the reserves recently,” he said.
“He’s consistently been in the top echelon of players for Harty and with Zac and Charlie going down, he gets his chance and certainly deserves it.”
Meanwhile, Tim Sumner will be given his first opportunity to show fans across the country why he was taken by the Gold Coast with the 55th pick in last year’s national draft when he is unleashed against Geelong, the former SANFL star elevated after a string of polished performances in the Shaun Harts NEAFL team, including a five goal haul against Morningside.
“Timmy has been playing some really good footy in the reserves grade and has been on the brink of senior selection for the past five weeks,” said Ashcroft.
“He played another really good game last week and gets his chance to play his first AFL match this Saturday night.”
Ashcroft said Sumner had been on the match committee’s radar for some time, with his inclusion providing the Gold Coasters with more attacking flair.
“We always wanted to get him into the side at some stage because he has been playing really well and adds that x-factor to our team.”
With the club’s emerging stars providing stronger competition for spots this season, Ashcroft said the omission of Steven May and Jack Hutchins was a reality the club would have to accept.
“The improvement within this team is huge and our players now know that they need to play well to keep their spot,” he said
“The pressure from some of our NEAFL players have forced a couple of our guys who haven’t been able to play their role to go back, play a full game through the reserves and regain the form we know their capable of performing.”
Joel Wilkinson will take his place in the back-six after returning from a high-ankle sprain, and is likely to be entrusted with one of the side’s biggest defensive assignments after being named as a back-pocket flanker alongside Sam Day and Trent McKenzie.
“Joel has been out of action recently with his ankle injury, but based on his performances under Shaun Hart deserves his spot in the team.”
Elevated-rookie Kyal Horsley will make his first AFL appearance for 2013, while Michael Rischitelli also returns to senior footy after a short stint with the NEAFL team.
“It was really tough for Rischitelli earlier this year because he had a chronic hamstring injury lingering from last year,” he said.
“But for him to go back and play in the reserves the way he did is a credit to him and shows why he is a respected leader amongst our playing group.”
Greg Broughton will be part of the travelling party, but has been named as an emergency for this weekend’s contest.
ROUND 10 AFL Premiership Senior Team
B: T. McKenzie, S. Day, J. Wilkinson
HB: D. Swallow, R. Thompson, T. Murphy
C: M. Shaw, G. Ablett, J. Harbrow
HF: M. Rischitelli, T. Lynch, A. Hall
F: C. Brown, D. Gorringe, B. Matera
R: T. Nicholls, D. Stanley, D. Prestia
INT: J. O’Meara, K. Horsley, T. Sumner, L. Russell
Emergencies: G. Broughton, J. Hutchins, S. May
In: T. Nicholls, J. Wilkinson, M. Rischitelli, T. Sumner, K. Horsley
Out: G. Broughton (Omit), J. Hutchins (Omit), S. May (Omit), J. Brennan (Knee), J. Lonergan (Hamstring)
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