The injury carnage at the Gold Coast SUNS this season has opened the door for less experienced, younger players to take an opportunity and do what they can with it. Some have grasped their chance, putting their hands up to be part of the bigger picture once there is finally, a clean bill of health.
 
For the duration of 2015, Michael Rischitelli has been somewhat of a father figure, chaperoning a makeshift midfield, comprised of the young and inexperienced. A difficult task made harder without the likes of Gary Ablett, David Swallow, Dion Prestia and Jaeger O’Meara on the park. Or even just one or two of them for an extended patch.
 
Amid the calamity, a silver lining throughout the season has been the opportunity presented to first, second and third-year players, particularly in the midfield. Had injuries not struck with the ferocity that they have, there is no doubt that players wouldn’t have got the opportunity they have.
 
Touk Miller and Jesse Lonergan are two of a handful that has flourished when handed the keys to the engine room. They have been asked to punch above their weight division throughout the back end of 2015 and emerged as two genuine options for the SUNS midfield in the future.
 
“This is what happens when you have a lot of injuries, it just gives guys opportunities,” Rischitelli told reporters at Metricon Stadium on Tuesday morning.
 
“Jesse’s been really good and also Touk. It just gives us something different that we can throw into the midfield if nothing’s working with some other guys and it’s also good for their confidence as well.
 
“Especially (for) a young bloke [Miller] to be able to play all year, and the majority of that in the midfield as well, it’s a really good effort for those guys, it’s good for the club.
 
Miller has been a revelation this season. There is no other way to describe his ascension. To come in and play every game and set the benchmark for pressure not only at the SUNS, but for all players under the 50 game barrier, has been phenomenal.
 
Rischitelli has been around long enough to see the big picture. Midfields require more than just a starting four, they need eight to ten bona fide options in there, especially across a 22-game season and one that can go beyond that and compete against the best. The emergence of Miller and Lonergan will provide the midfield depth to an already glittering onball department.
 
“When he first got here I didn’t know much about Touk and I didn’t think he was going to play every game,” Rischitelli said.
 
“But to his credit, it’s pretty amazing to get a first-year to play every game, especially at this level. He’s pretty professional; he does everything that he can to get up.
 
“It’s really good, its another option that we have and we didn’t think that we were going to have. It’s a credit to him.”