A prominent big man that can play in the centre square and in front of goal is a valuable commodity for any senior coach in the AFL, but Sam Day’s versatility is creating serious selection headaches for Guy McKenna.

The 21-year-old South Australian is considered a key pillar to the GC SUNS’ forward line, but with Charlie Dixon out of the 22 due to an adductor complaint, Day has been called upon to fill the ruck/forward role, as McKenna looks to provide Tom Nicholls will valuable support at stoppages around the ground.

But there is concern a switch out of attack could lessen Day’s offensive impact on the scoreboard, given the amount of ground ruckmen cover.  It means the likelihood of fatigue is increased dramatically. 

McKenna said it’s a selection matter he is already having to calculate on a week-by-week basis.

 “Sam Day has been able to provide good support for Tommy (Nicholls) but it’s now becoming a critical point of should Sam actually be staying forward and becoming the forward we’ve all hoped for,” McKenna said.

“Because by taking him out of the forward line and asking him to ruck and give Tommy Nicholls a spell, it’s certainly not helping him take the marks we need him to take.

“Again on the weekend all the marks he took, I can guarantee 80 per cent of them were in the first half.

“In the second half, obviously under fatigue of rucking backing up Tommy, it certainly hurt him.

“Now with Charlie (Dixon) out, Sam is fast becoming our first, if not second, contested mark player in the forward 50.

“So why, as a match committee, do we take him out of that to help Tommy? Do we need to find somebody else to do that?”

The SUNS forward line will be boosted with the return of livewire Brandon Matera, who will be available for senior selection after serving his one-match sanction against Hawthorn.