Ahead of their trip to Geelong on Sunday afternoon, the Gold Coast SUNS have made five changes at the selection table with all forced decisions on the back of a handful of injuries and a suspension.

Rodney Eade’s men will make the trip south without injured captain Gary Ablett who has been sidelined indefinitely after his shoulder injury flared up following the St Kilda game last Saturday night.

Jarrod Harbrow has also succumbed to a shoulder injury after he experienced a subluxation just before half-time against St Kilda last weekend. Off-season recruit Mitch Hallahan and Greg Broughton have also been ruled out due to a rib and achilles injury respectively.

Two losses from the opening two rounds and a growing casualty ward doesn’t look great on paper, but fortunately for Eade and the match committee, a handful of players have been knocking on the door for senior selection in the NEAFL team.

Trent McKenzie has been brought straight back into the line up to face the Cats after he was dropped following his performance against Melbourne in round one. Forward pair Brandon Matera and Aaron Hall have also been rewarded for strong form in the reserves with their first senior appearances of 2015.

After missing the St Kilda loss at Metricon Stadium due to suspension, Matt Shaw has been brought straight back into Eade’s 22. He replaces Alex Sexton who received a one-game suspension for striking Saints youngster Jack Lonie.

With the return of Tom Lynch last weekend, versatile big man Daniel Gorringe was unlucky to be squeezed out of the SUNS side. The South Australian comes back in to combat a Geelong side that boasts plenty of ruck options and tall timber across the ground.

Round 3 AFL Premiership Team

B: T. McKenzie, R. Thompson, S. Lemmens
HB: S. Tape, S. May, A. Saad
C: K. Kolodjashnij, D. Prestia, N. Malceski
HF: A. Hall, S. Day, B. Matera
F: T. Miller, T. Lynch, H. Bennell
R: Z. Smith, M. Rischitelli, D. Swallow
INT: J. Martin, J. Garlett, M. Shaw, D. Gorringe
Emergencies: J. Lonergan, H. Schade, T. Nicholls

IN: T. McKenzie, M. Shaw, B. Matera, D. Gorringe, A. Hall
OUT: J. Harbrow (shoulder), M. Hallahan (ribs), G. Ablett (shoulder), A. Sexton (suspension), G. Broughton (achilles)