Gold Coast SUNS ruckman Tom Nicholls will take his place in the starting line-up against North Melbourne after being passed fit by Gold Coast medical staff this morning.
Nicholls completed a series of fitness tests at the club’s high performance base on Friday, and upon showing no sign for concern, was immediately cleared for Sunday’s clash at Etihad Stadium.
He makes his return to senior football alongside Charlie Dixon and Harley Bennell, who also reclaim their positions in the final 22.
The round seven showdown will mark Bennell’s first AFL start for 2014, while Dixon will be out to make an impact on the scoreboard after being sidelined with an adductor injury sustained against Fremantle in round two.
The Gold Coast SUNS named a 25-man squad on Thursday evening, and on Friday confirmed Tom Murphy, Timmy Sumner and Jeremy Taylor would be named as emergencies for the game.
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: D. Prestia, M. Rischitelli, L. Russell, H. Bennell
In: C.Dixon, T.Nicholls , H.Bennell
Out: M.Warnock (Omitted) , J.Hutchins (Omitted), T. Sumner (Omitted)
Emergency: T. Murphy, T. Sumner, J. Taylor
