Gold Coast will look to continue its’ mid-season resurgence when they come up against a red-hot UWS Giants at Metricon Stadium on Saturday morning.
It’s been an up-and-down season for the Suns, losing their 22nd consecutive NEAFL game in Round 3 against Sydney before finally breaking the drought against Brisbane the following week.
They lost four of their next five and appeared out of finals contention before stringing together three consecutive wins to six just outside the top six by percentage only.
But taming the Giants will be no easy task, who destroyed Aspley in a top-of-the-table clash by 95 points last week.
The Suns got within 16 points of the Giants last time they played in Round 7, and will be bolstered by the return of Jack Martin and Harley Bennell to this week’s line-up.
But they have lost some quality with ruckman Zac Smith – who scored the perfect 10 NEAFL MVP votes for his starring role against the Sharks last week – elevated to the AFL.
Clay Cameron, Josh Glenn and Peter Wright have also been added to the Suns’ AFL squad.
The UWS Giants have only made two changes, with Josh Kelly elevated to the seniors and Michael Flynn will miss.
Draft prospect Harrison Himmelberg, who was one of Eastlake’s best in his NEAFL debut last week, will feature as a top-up player, with Liam Sumner also returning.
NEAFL Round 15 Team v UWS Giants
B: J. Harrison, J. Leslie, H. Schade
HB: L. Herbert, J. Hall, N. Crowley
C: S. Lemmens, A. Raines, J. Macansh
HF: B. Erickson, T. Downie, E. Reeves
F: C. Filewood, D. Gorringe, A. Boston
R: K. Brooksby, J. Martin, H. Bennell
Interchange: M. Spencer, D. Budarick, J. Joyce, C. West
Emergencies: C. Marsden, S. Fahey, J. Butler
