The Gold Coast SUNS will welcome back a number of key players when the team flies west to take on West Coast at Domain Stadium this Sunday.
Skipper Gary Ablett returns from concussion, while vice-captain Steven May has completed a five-game suspension and will lead the backline with a likely matchup with Eagles spearhead Josh Kennedy on the cards.
Midfielder Aaron Hall also makes his comeback from a shoulder injury, and will be a welcome inclusion with the Tasmanian averaging 30.9 disposals in 2016.
Ruckman Tom Nicholls comes into the side to replace Dan Currie, with the latter requiring surgery during the week to repair a fractured finger.
Unfortunately injury has hit inside Metricon Stadium once again, with four other players joining Currie on the sidelines from the SUNS’ round nine team.
In-form swingman Sam Day has been unable to prove his fitness during the week and will miss the clash against the Eagles with a hip injury while Jarrad Grant (hamstring), Callum Ah Chee (concussion) and Darcy Macpherson (knee) will also miss the trip west.
“Hopefully this is the end of the bad luck,” coach Rodney Eade told United Coaches Chat.
“We’ve got four good ins which is terrific, but you’re losing five players with injuries which is a bit of a worry.
“(But) the four ins we’ve got are pretty good players so that’ll give the guys some confidence.”
Clay Cameron, Mackenzie Willis, Jesse Joyce and Josh Schoenfeld have all been included on an extended interchange bench.
The 25-man squad will be cut to a final 22 on Friday at 5pm.
Round 10 AFL Premiership Squad
B: K. Brooksby, S. May, S. Lemmens
HB: J. Harbrow, H. Schade, K. Kolodjashnij
C: N. Malceski, M. Rischitelli, M. Shaw
HF: L. Russell, T. Lynch, J. Martin
F: B. Matera, P. Wright, R. Davis
FOLL: T. Nicholls, G. Ablett, D. Prestia
INT (from): C. Cameron, A. Hall, M. Willis, J. Schoenfeld, J. Lonergan, J. Joyce, S. Tape
IN: G. Ablett, S. May, T. Nicholls, C. Cameron, M. Willis, A. Hall, J. Joyce, J. Schoenfeld
OUT: D. Currie (finger), J. Grant (hamstring), S. Day (hip), C. Ah Chee (concussion), D. Macpherson (knee)
