NATHAN Bock’s nine-goal performance for the NEAFL SUNS has SUNS fans pondering if Bock’s senior return is imminent, while reserves coach Shaun Hart believes it’s only a matter of time before the All-Australian swingman is back throwing his 193cm and 93kg frame on the national stage.

“The good thing is that he is feeling the best he’s ever felt since his return,” Hart told goldcoastfc.com.au on Monday.

“He proved he is still an elite player and if we had some cleaner entries inside-50 during the first and third quarters, he could have finished with 12-13 goals.”

“He looked on the weekend to be athletically capable of playing AFL football again.”

The dual-premiership champion says the challenge for Bock now is to ensure he is mentally capable of withstanding the pressure that comes with playing senior football. 

“The only thing he has to do now is convince himself, and Guy McKenna, that he can play the game when the ball is on the ground,” Hart said.

“He had a bit of a knock to his leg against Aspley on the weekend and actually though he had done something wrong, but after a while he went back on and felt good again, so that’s a massive break-through for him.”

GC SUNS General Manager – Football Operations, Marcus Ashcroft agreed that the Gold Coaster was edging closer towards earning a call-up to the seniors. 

“Nathan has now played 5 games back at NEAFL level, and importantly in the last two weeks has stepped up to play the entire match and that highlights that he is improving each time he takes the field.”

“We haven’t had time to review the game as yet, however having kicked 9 goals he clearly had a day out and will take a lot of confidence out if it.”

“We will see how Nathan pulls up from the game, he knows what level he needs to be at play at the senior football, when he feels he is at that level and our medical and high performance team believe he is ready to play he will be considered for senior selection but until that time he will continue his rehabilitation through the NEAFL.”