The hard hitting utility hasn’t been spotted in the Club’s top 22 since Round seven, out with Hamstring Tendonitis.
Hunts recent form in the NEAFL has been strong, the former Rugby League international confident he’ll pick up where he left off when the Gold Coasters run out onto Metricon Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
“It was certainly frustrating being sidelined through injury, however after a couple of weeks in the reserves, I’m feeling fit and really looking forward to the challenge and getting back this weekend.” Hunt said
Key Forward Steven May will make his much-awaited return to senior football against Adelaide this weekend, with Guy McKenna calling upon the Northern Territorian to unleash around goals as the Gold Coasters seek their third consecutive victory at Metricon Stadium.
“Steven May has gone back to the Reserves and earned his spot through competiveness as a key forward,” General Manager of Football Operations Marcus Ashcroft told goldcoastfc.com.au on Thursday.
“We need him coming into the team to be that focal target up forward obviously with Charlie (Dixon) and Tom (Lynch) being out of the side.”
Crows defender Daniel Talia is likely to be given the tough defensive task of limiting May’s impact on the contest, with the AFL’s reigning Rising Star set to take his usual place at centre half-back.
Dixon failed to finish at the senior squad’s main training session yesterday, and is likely to be reassessed by the club’s high performance team next week as he continues to overcome a trouble ankle injury.
“We’re really conservative with Charlie because we know how important he is for us in the way he plays and throws himself around the contest,” Ashcroft said.
“We still have ten rounds to go and want him to play the majority of those, so we’ll continue to be conscious of bringing him back into the senior side under prepared.”
Greg Broughton will also mark his return to the football field this Saturday, after successfully overcoming a niggling hand and foot complaint in which he aggravated against Hawthorn in the side’s Round 9 match at the MCG last month.
“Greg has had some issues with his body, and had a couple of weeks off and played well in the reserves last time they played,” said Ashcroft.
“We welcome back his experience and composure into the side, he’s played good footy for us this year and will be great directing our backline this weekend.”
Meanwhile, Maverick Weller will make his first AFL appearance for 2013, after fracturing his scapula (shoulder injury) in the NEAFL’s season opener against Mt. Gravatt earlier this year – forcing the 182cm small defender on a modified training program over a nine-week stint on the sidelines.
“It’s taken Maverick a long time to get back from that nasty shoulder injury but he has recovered well and under sheer weight of good performances has earned his position in the senior side,” he said.
But all eyes are set to be fixed towards Rookie Andrew Boston, with the Gold Coaster to make his AFL debut against the Crows in front of family and friends on his home soil.
“Andrew will make his debut after playing with local club Broadbeach, which is a great reward for him on the basis that he has played well all year round and even in our NAB Cup opener against Hawthorn.
“We’re confident he will acquit himself well in the senior side.”
Seb Tape has made another gigantic step towards resurrecting his AFL career, after being named as an emergency for the first time this year.
ROUND 14 AFL Premiership Senior Team
B: T. McKenzie, S. Day, J. Wilkinson
HB: D. Swallow, R. Thompson, T. Murphy
C: M. Shaw, G. Ablett, J. Harbrow
HF: K. Hunt, May, A. Hall
F: C. Brown, D. Gorringe, T. Sumner
R: T. Nicholls, D. Stanley, J. O’Meara
INT: D. Prestia, M. Weller, G. Broughton, A. Boston
Emergencies: K. Horsley, L. Patrick, S. Tape
In: K. Hunt, S. May, G. Broughton, A. Boston, M. Weller
Out: M. Rischitelli (elbow), Lynch (knee), Patrick (omit), Hutchins (omit)
View full player profiles here.
