The Gold Coast SUNS have made three changes for Saturday’s clash against the Sydney Swans at Metricon Stadium, with prized draftee Peter Wright headlining the inclusions.
Midfielders Andrew Raines and Matt Shaw return to Rodney Eade’s side, along with Wright who will make his debut after being selected with pick eight in last November’s national draft.
Injuries and disciplinary issues have compelled Gold Coast to make three forced changes with Alex Sexton and Jack Martin unavailable due to a hip flexor and hamstring injury respectively. Even if Martin was fit to play, the livewire utility would not have been eligible for selection due to breaching team standards along with Charlie Dixon in Tasmania.
Key forward Wright has been allowed to develop at his own pace in the NEAFL, with the football department determined not to rush the prodigious talent. But his last couple of weeks in the reserves have forced the selectors hands after impressive performances against NT Thunder and UWS Giants. With Dixon serving a one-week club imposed suspension, Wright will support Tom Lynch inside 50, as well as spending some time in the ruck.
The Calder Cannons product becomes the 40th player used by the SUNS in 2015 – a staggering number across an entire season, let alone one that hasn’t even reached the halfway mark. But it’s a number reflective of the dire state of injury affairs inside Metricon Stadium.
Wingman Shaw was dropped after the SUNS' 92-point loss to West Coast in Perth, but has responded emphatically in the last fortnight to earn a recall. The foundation SUN has collected 33 and 38 possessions across the last two weeks, with pure weight of numbers forcing his way back into Eade’s 22.
With an opposition midfield batting all the way through to the tail order, Raines has been recalled to try and curb the influence of one of the Swans' superstar midfielders. Sydney boast some of the best ball winners in the game in Dan Hannebery, Luke Parker, Josh Kennedy and Jarrad McVeigh so no matter which match up he draws, Raines will be handed a tough assignment.
Round 10 AFL Premiership Team
B: A. Saad, H. Schade, K. Kolodjashnij
HB: J. Harbrow, S. May, J. Lonergan
C: L. Russell, T. McKenzie, A. Raines
HF: D. Stanley, T. Lynch, H. Bennell
F: K. Brooksby, P. Wright, T. Miller
R: T. Nicholls, M. Rischitelli, M. Hallahan
Interchange: A. Boston, M. Shaw, B. Matera, S. Lemmens
Emergencies: C. Cameron, G. Broughton, S. Tape
IN: A. Raines, P. Wright, M. Shaw
OUT: J. Martin (Hamstring), A. Sexton (Hip Flexor), C. Dixon (Club Suspension)
NEW: P. Wright (Calder Cannons/Moonee Valley)
