Pearce Hanley will make his return to football this Saturday with the Gold Coast NEAFL team as they take on Aspley in round three.
Hanley, along with his Brisbane-based brother Cian, was granted compassionate leave to spend time with his family in Ireland following the passing of his brother Tommy.
Senior Coach Rodney Eade said although he’d love Hanley to return to the senior squad, it was in the recruit’s best interest to rebuild his fitness through the reserves.
“We just think with two 30 hour flights and his history of soft tissue we’ve just got to do the right thing by him,” Eade told the media on Thursday.
“He’s done a bit while he was away, which is good.
“He’s in a really good head space.”
After returning to the training track on Tuesday, Hanley’s game-time will be managed, with the midfielder likely to play between half and three quarters of competitive football.
“For longer term he just needs to play a game, half to three quarters in the NEAFL, and then be available the next week.”
In more positive news, Tom Nicholls will also return to the NEAFL team after suffering a shoulder niggle in previous weeks.
Jack Leslie has been called up to the senior side to replace Rory Thompson while Jack Scrimshaw has been purposely rested from the match.
Round 3 NEAFL Premiership Team
B: J. Schoenfeld, M. Spencer, M. Willis
HB: M. Shaw, T. McKenzie, M. Saad
C: C. AhChee, D. Macpherson, J. Lonergan
HF: M. Hallahan, J. Grant, B. Scheer
F: T. Nicholls, C. Loersch, D. Currie
FOLL: K. Brooksby, W. Brodie, R. Davis
INTER: C. Offermans, J. Dawson, P. Hanley, L. McDoanld
EMG: C. Marsden, T. Fraser, M. Olarenshaw
IN: P. Hanley, T. Nicholls, J. Dawson
OUT: J. Scrimshaw, N. Kempe, J. Leslie
