Exciting youngsters Clay Cameron and Sean Lemmens are in line to make their pre-season debuts against Essendon on Monday night, after being named in the Gold Coast SUNS 28-man squad.
The Gold Coast SUNS are set to field a strong side for their first NAB Challenge match, a team that includes the likes of high-profile stars Charlie Dixon, Jaeger O’Meara, David Swallow and of course, 2013 Brownlow Medallist Gary Ablett.
A promising key position defender, Cameron’s first AFL season was ravaged by lingering hip issues, and underwent season-ending hip surgery to better his chances of senior football.
With a strong summer of training, and a full year under his belt, GC SUNS General Manager of Football Operations – Marcus Ashcroft believes Cameron is well prepared to get his first taste of football at the highest level.
“The philosophy amongst the coaches is that all players that have been named in the NAB Challenge squad have earned their spot in the side, and deserve a chance to play at senior level,” Ashcroft said.
“For Clay, he is a Queenslander taken from our local zone, and we think he has a bright future ahead of him and on Monday gets his chance to perform.”
Taken with selection 27 in the 2013 AFL Draft last November, Lemmens has been training the house down and is ready to play on the big stage according to Ashcroft.
“Sean has been training well, and also gets an opportunity to play senior football.”
Other worthy notables include Tom Lynch and Brandon Matera, with both returning after missing a considerable chunk of the 2013 campaign through to injury.
After electrifying crowds last year’s NAB Cup series, Jack Martin returns to the pre-season action, and is one step closer to his much-anticipated AFL debut.
“Jack played in the NAB Cup last year, but he has had a good pre-season and his natural progression is getting him to play some footy and we’re looking forward to seeing how he goes.”
Gold Coast SUNS NAB Challenge Squad
1. Gary Ablett
2. Jackson Allen
3. Andrew Boston
4. Greg Broughton
5. Clay Cameron
6. Sam Day
7. Charlie Dixon
8. Dan Gorringe
9. Aaron Hall
10. Josh Hall
11. Jarrod Harbrow
12. Sean Lemmens
13. Jesse Lonergan
14. Tom Lynch
15. Jack Martin
16. Brandon Matera
17. Steven May
18. Trent McKenzie
19. Tom Nicholls
20. Jaeger O’Meara
21. Michael Rischitelli
22. Henry Schade
23. Matt Shaw
24. Danny Stanley
25. Timmy Sumner
26. David Swallow
27. Jeremy Taylor
28. Matthew Warnock
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