He’s dominated discussion all season long, with the football world impatiently awaiting his return. But after being cleared to play from a medical viewpoint, captain Gary Ablett should return to face North Melbourne at Metricon Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
 
The champion midfielder has not played since round two’s loss to St Kilda after suffering a setback with his reconstructed shoulder. Saturday marks almost exactly one year to the day that he originally dislocated his shoulder against Collingwood. With the Gold Coast SUNS lacking speed, polish and direction around the ball, the return of the eight-time All Australian will be a massive coup for a side with just the one win next to its name.
 
Mature-aged rookie Keegan Brooksby produced a performance right out of the top drawer in the reserves impressive win over Brisbane at Coorparoo on Sunday. The versatile tall split his time between the ruck and up forward, booting five goals, as well as accumulating 18 hitouts, 25 possessions and nine marks in a best on ground performance. With Charlie Dixon in some doubt after injuring his ankle against Carlton, Brooksby may return to the senior side to replace the big bustling spearhead.
 
Key defender Rory Thompson got through his return game unscathed against the Lions and could be in line to return to Rodney Eade’s side to help combat North Melbourne’s tall forward line. Last week’s game was his first appearance since injuring his hip flexor back in round five, so he the match committee may prefer to give him more time to regain form and fitness before brining him back into the seniors.
 
David Swallow is another player who the match committee will deliberate over. Last year’s best and fairest winner has not played since he injured his posterior cruciate ligament back in round four. The star midfielder has been running for the last month, but given the chunk of football he has missed, the preferred option may be to reintroduce via the NEAFL. Although considering the abundance of class missing in the middle of the ground, the SUNS could really do with Swallow.
 
After being named in the 25-man squad to face Carlton last weekend, Matt Shaw did his chances of a recall to the seniors no harm with a strong effort in the NEAFL. The midfielder gathered 19 possessions and nine clearances in three quarters against the Lions and after Gold Coast’s poor midfield performance against the Blues, Shaw may be brought back into the 22 as Eade and the match committee look to reinvigorate the onball brigade.

Aaron Hall did his chances of returning to the senior side no disservice by acquiring 29 possessions, ten inside 50s and six clearances against the Lions. The big-bodied utility did his damage both in the middle of the ground and in attack where he booted four goals to be one of the best players in Josh Fraser’s side.
 
Ruckman Zac Smith continued his purple patch of form in the NEAFL with another productive afternoon. Smith finished a season-high 27 disposals, 24 hitouts and nine clearances to put his hand up for a recall to the senior side for the first time since round seven.