With key defender Rory Thompson unsuccessful in his bid to be declared fit for Sunday’s clash against Richmond at the MCG, athletic key post Josh Hall will make his first senior appearance in almost two years after being named at full back in the SUNS’ initial 25-man-squad.

Incredibly, the North Queensland product will become the 41st player to don the red and gold guernsey at the top level in 2015.

Only rookies Tyrone Downie, Jarred Ellis and Louis Herbert, along with the injured Jaeger O’Meara, have yet to taste senior football over the first 19 rounds of the AFL Premiership season.

To put that number in perspective, the top three clubs on the AFL ladder (Fremantle, West Coast and Hawthorn) have all used 31 players or less this season, highlighting the importance of continuity on the football field and how catastrophic the injury situation has been at Metricon Stadium.

Livewire forward Jarrod Garlett is a chance to complete his comeback from reconstructive ankle surgery, named on an extended interchange bench.

The talented West Australian played the first five games of the season before suffering an ankle injury in the early minutes of round five, but in that short space of time he demonstrated his prodigious talent.

Against Geelong at Simonds Stadium in round three – his third AFL game – Garlett took off with the ball across half-back before loping down the outer wing, taking four bounces before kicking one of the goals of the season.

Ruckman Zac Smith and mature-aged rookie Josh Glenn are the other additions to the squad, with Sean Lemmens omitted from the team that defeated Brisbane at the Gabba last Saturday.

Round 20 AFL Premiership Team

B: A. Saad, J. Hall, K. Kolodjashnij
HB: N. Malceski, S. May, T. McKenzie
C: J. Harbrow, M. Rischitelli, M. Shaw
HF: H. Bennell, T. Lynch, B. Matera
F: J. Martin, S. Day, C. Dixon
R: T. Nicholls, J. Lonergan, T. Miller
Interchange (from): Z. Smith, L. Russell, A. Boston, H. Schade, A. Hall, J. Glenn, J. Garlett

IN: Z. Smith, J. Glenn, J. Garlett, J. Hall
OUT: Lemmens (omitted)