Most though will be forced to fight their way back into the Club’s top 22 through the NEAFL team with Daniel Gorringe the only change to the side that last weekend outlasted North Melbourne at Metricon Stadium.
Gorringe will be out to repay the faith shown in him after Guy McKenna named the emerging ruckman as a replacement for injured star Charlie Dixon who will miss after suffering a reoccurrence of an ankle injury in the final term against the Kangaroos.
GC SUNS General Manager of Football Operations Marcus Ashcroft told goldcoastfc.com.au Dixon’s absence was a significant blow for the Gold Coasters, but was confident the two-week break would give him the best possible chance of firing at the back-end of the Premiership Season.
“Unfortunately Charlie was unable to overcome his ankle injury in time for Saturday night’s match against Essendon,” Ashcroft said.
“While he will miss this weekend’s clash against the Bombers, we look forward to welcoming him back into the senior team after the mid-season break.”
After finishing among Shaun Hart’s best on-field performance in the NEAFL squad’s 20-point victory against the Sydney Swans Reserves last Saturday, Ashcroft said Gorringe had earned his boarding pass and would play a crucial role against the Bombers.
“He has shown on multiple occasions that he is capable of holding down a position in the Ruck when called upon to the elite level, so we are more than confident Daniel and Tom Nicholls will do a fantastic job feeding the ball to our midfielders.”
With Bomber’s big men Paddy Ryder and Tom Bellchambers combining for a total of 405 hit-outs so far this season, both Gorringe and Nicholls will need to be at their best if the GC SUNS are to stay in the hunt against a dangerous Bombers outfit.
Young gun Dion Prestia has the difficult task of containing 2012 Brownlow Medallist Jobe Watson, while veteran Bombers tagger Heath Hocking seems the most likely opponent for inform Gold Coast skipper skipper Gary Ablett.
After his effective shut-down role on Jarrod Waite during the Bomber’s spirited chase against the Blues, Michael Hurley may get the job on the Tom Lynch after the power-forward finished among the Gold Coast’s multiple goal-kickers and took a game-high four marks inside-50 last weekend.
Round 12 AFL Premiership Team
B: T. McKenzie, S.Day, J.Wilkinson
HB: D.Swallow, R. Thompson, T.Murphy
C: M.Shaw, G.Ablett, J.Harbrow
HF: L.Patrick, T.Lynch, A.Hall
F: C.Brown, D. Gorringe, T. Sumner
R: T.Nicholls, D.Stanley, D.Prestia
Int: J.O’Meara, M.Rischitelli, J.Hutchins, L.Russell
Emergencies: J. Gillbee, S. May, M. Weller
In: Gorringe
Out: Dixon (ankle)
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