Ablett & Hunt return for SUNS
Gold Coast SUNS skipper Gary Ablett will return to action this weekend alongside resilient midfielder Karmichael Hunt and speedster Jarrod Harbrow as senior coach Guy McKenna looks to field the strongest available side for their NAB Challenge against Melbourne at Southport Sharks this Saturday.
Matt Shaw will also return after missing the past two NAB Cup matches with illness.
Rising AFL star Harley Bennell will be rested after a busy pre-season campaign which included a best-on-ground performance in the Indigenous All Stars clash, while Maverick Weller will miss the match, allowing him to attend his brother’s wedding.
After impressive performances against Broadbeach in last week’s NEAFL practice match, Jack Hutchins and Timmy Sumner have been named in the 26-man squad with the selection being the first for former SANFL star Sumner.
In what looks to be a further indication that McKenna’s men are focused on Round 1, is the match committee’s decision to leave Campbell Brown out of the side. Brown will miss the first six matches of the season due to suspension and the SUNS have elected to play a team in the final practice match that will resemble the team that will tackle St Kilda in Round 1.
The SUNS will also rest Jack Martin this week. Martin, who like Jaeger O’Meara last season, is unavailable for senior selection in 2013, played in the SUNS opening three weeks of the pre-season.
GC SUNS NAB Challenge Squad:
1 Jaeger O’Meara
2 Zac Smith
3 Jared Brennan
5 Jarrod Harbrow
7 Karmichael Hunt
9 Gary Ablett ©
10 Dion Prestia
12 Sam Day
14 Matthew Warnock
15 Daniel Gorringe
16 Rory Thompson
17 Steven May
23 Charlie Dixon
24 David Swallow
25 Danny Stanley
26 Matt Shaw
29 Tom Murphy
32 Brandon Matera
33 Aaron Hall
34 Jack Hutchins
35 Michael Rischitelli
36 Greg Broughton
37 Jesse Lonergan
38 Joel Wilkinson
39 Timmy Sumner
42 Kyal Horsley
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