Harley Bennell and Charlie Dixon are a lock to make their return to senior football, after being named in the Gold Coast SUNS’ extended squad ahead of Sunday’s round seven clash with North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium.
The GC SUNS players made a sizeable impact with the club’s NEAFL team last weekend, performing well in their first competitive matches since being sidelined with calf and groin injuries, respectively.
While the final 22 won’t be finalised until tomorrow afternoon, General Manager - Football Operations, Marcus Ashcroft, confirmed Bennell and Dixon would reclaim their spots in the senior team.
“Harley and Charlie will both come into the 22 when the team is finalised on Friday afternoon,” Ashcroft told goldcoastfc.com.au.
“They both played meaningful minutes in the reserves last week and reported no issues from their injuries.
“We are confident they will come back and have an immediate impact at senior level.”
First-choice ruckman Tom Nicholls will be given until the eleventh hour to prove his fitness to the club’s high performance staff, as he looks to overcome a calf strain that forced him to withdraw from the side’s 40-point victory over Greater Western Sydney last week.
“We have given Tom until tomorrow before we make a call on his availability,” Ashcroft said.
“He has made good progress the last few days but we are also mindful that he only injured it a week ago.
“So we are optimistic he will take his place, but we need to make sure he is fit to take to the playing field.”
In-form NEAFL players Jeremy Taylor and Tom Murphy have also been named on an extended interchange, and are both a chance of breaking in to the senior team.
“We will need to finalise our three emergencies tomorrow, and that will hinge on the fitness of Tom.”
ROUND 7 AFL Premiership Senior Team
B: K. Kolodjashnij, S. May, G. Broughton
HB: S. Lemmens, R. Thompson, T. McKenzie
C: M. Shaw, G. Ablett, J. Harbrow
HF: A. Hall, T. Lynch, D. Stanley
F: C. Dixon, S. Day, B. Matera
R: T. Nicholls, J. O’Meara, D. Swallow
INT: T. Sumner, J. Taylor, D. Prestia, M. Rischitelli, T. Murphy, L. Russell, H. Bennell (three to be omitted)
In: Bennell, Dixon, Nicholls, Taylor, Murphy
Out: Warnock, Hutchins
