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By Michael Whiting
Nathan Bock believed his leadership role at Gold Coast SUNS was never in jeopardy despite being suspended by the AFL for the first two rounds of the home and away season.
Bock was retained as the GC SUNS vice-captain on Saturday after being voted into the leadership group by his peers for the second straight season.
He will miss rounds one and two after telling family members he would be moved from his usual full-back role to start in the forward line against Hawthorn in round 24 last season.
That information led to a betting plunge on Bock to be the first goalkicker, and it proved to be a windfall for some punters when he duly managed the first major.
Despite the setback, Bock was not concerned he would lose his vice-captaincy.
"It's obviously serious; it's a breach of AFL rules and I understand that," he said.
"The AFL have handed down their penalty and I copped it on the chin and move on from it.
"The players obviously still see me as a strong leader and that's what I see myself as."
Teammate Campbell Brown was stripped of his deputy vice-captaincy role after being detained by Thai police for an incident on an end-of-season trip.
Brown was still eligible to be in the seven-man leadership group but was not reinstated.
Michael Rischitelli took his role, while captain Gary Ablett also has Zac Smith, David Swallow, Karmichael Hunt and Andrew McQualter in his team.
Bock said missing two games was a tough penalty to take.
"It was always going to sting," he said.
"It obviously stung when I first found out and it's going to when the season kicks off … disappointing, but cop it on the chin and get myself ready and raring for round three.
"I understood the penalties in place. It's an easy mistake to make and something I've learnt from and hopefully the rest of the playing group has learnt from as well."
Bock said he was eager to play as much of the pre-season as possible to minimise the loss of any fitness and touch when he serves his suspension.
The 2008 All Australian was sensational in defence last year but starred as a key forward in Saturday's intra-club match, kicking four goals.
He said it was a role he'd be happy to fill more regularly.
"I've spent a majority of the pre-season up in the forward line, so as you saw last year there was times I did go forward and if that needs be this year I've probably done a bit more work and understand the structures a bit better this year," he said.
Gold Coast SUNS opens its NAB Cup campaign against Melbourne and the Brisbane Lions at Metricon Stadium on Saturday night.
