Despite being part of the GC SUNS inaugural playing squad, after being taken at pick 10 in the 2010 AFL Draft, Gorringe has endured a frustrating start to his AFL career after hamstring ankle injuries hampered his promising 2011 campaign before an achilles injury in the opening round of the 2012 season forced the 20-year-old to watch on from the sidelines for the rest of the year.
But with retired ruckman Josh Fraser and Tom Hickey (traded to St. Kilda) no longer pushing for senior selection, the 200cm South Australian is already playing more minutes after being selected for all of the GC SUNS pre-season matches through the NAB Cup tournament.
After this morning’s training session, GC SUNS senior coach Guy McKenna told goldcoastfc.com.au that fans hadn’t yet seen the best from the young ruckman.
‘Having Josh Fraser and Tom Hickey previously fighting for selection at the club, and Zac (Smith) and Charlie (Dixon) frequently roaming through the middle, Daniel’s often seen as the forgotten man,” said McKenna.
“He’s a pure athletic specimen, and really pinched well in the ruck against the Swans last week.”
With many of the club’s young crop of talent recording their best pre-season under High Performance Manager Stephen Schwerdt, McKenna said it was likely Gorringe would reap the benefits of a tough summer training camp.
“He’s had to battle a series of injuries since arriving here, but he’s had a fantastic pre-season under Stephen (Schwerdt) so I’m expecting him to deliver on the promising signs he showed as an elite junior talent and remind those around him why he was a top 10 Draft pick.”
While towering bigmen Zac Smith and Charlie Dixon have traditional led the ruck candidancy, GC SUNS General Manager of Football Operations Marcus Ashcroft says AFL fans should only write-off Gorringe at their own peril.
“That position is not totally locked away, and when you’ve got three or four players fighting to cement that spot it puts the team in good stead,” said Marcus.
“He (Daniel) played some really good minutes in the ruck last week against the reigning AFL premiers and showed us he’s got some footy smarts.”
“I certainly won’t be ruling out Daniel Gorringe,” said Ashcroft.
With Gorringe being named in the 26-man squad that will face Melbourne in a NAB Challenge at Southport Sharks this Saturday, Ashcroft said the final pre-season match may be the last opportunity for the club’s talented ruckmen to push their case for selection.
“Whoever plays well this weekend will give themselves the chance to put their hand up to be the no. 1 ruckman for Round 1.”
