Veteran Michael Rischitelli will add some much-needed experience to an undermanned Gold Coast SUNS side tackling Adelaide at Metricon Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Rischitelli last played in round five and will be just one of three SUNS players to take the field this weekend with 100 games or more to their name.
With Adelaide set to feature nine players in the same boat, including former All-Australians Daniel Talia, Eddie Betts, Scott Thompson and Brodie Smith, the SUNS will be looking for its younger brigade to step up and make an impact.
South Australian Seb Tape will play his first game for the season against the Crows, while Luke Russell and Ryan Davis have received senior recalls. Talls Dan Currie and Peter Wright also return from one-week absences due to injury.
Skipper Gary Ablett misses the round nine clash with concussion, while fellow midfielders Touk Miller (ankle) and Aaron Hall (shoulder) too are sidelined. Adam Saad (hamstring), Tom Nicholls (omitted) and Keegan Brooksby (omitted) also go out of the side.
Round 9 AFL Premiership Team
B: H. Schade, J. Leslie, S. Lemmens
HB: J. Harbrow, S. Day, K. Kolodjashnij
C: C. Ah Chee, M. Rischitelli, M. Shaw
HF: L. Russell, T. Lynch, J. Martin
F: B. Matera, P. Wright, R. Davis
FOLL: D. Currie, J. Lonergan, D. Prestia
INT: J. Grant, N. Malceski, D. Macpherson, S. Tape
EMG: T. Nicholls, K. Brooksby, M. Willis
IN: D. Currie, R. Davis, L. Russell, M. Rischitelli, P. Wright, S. Tape
OUT: G. Ablett (concussion), T. Nicholls (omitted), A. Saad (hamstring), T. Miller (ankle), A. Hall (shoulder), K. Brooksby (omitted)
