FEARS FOR DAY
SUNS RALLY AROUND INJURED MATE
SUNS leader Michael Barlow says Sam Day’s hip injury goes beyond football as Gold Coast prepare to regroup for Sunday’s pre-season clash against Essendon.
Day, who re-signed in July last year until the end of 2019, will miss the entire 2017 season and the club is yet to determine a time frame for when he might return to football.
An emotional Barlow said it was difficult to talk about the injury that Suns football manager Marcus Ashcroft described as something more commonly seen in car crash victims as the club rallies around one of their most respected characters.
“We are all in behind Sam because of the nature of the injury,” Barlow said.
“You do get a bit shaken up talking about it and thinking about what he is going through. All we can do is and all we are doing as a Suns family is really supporting him and getting in behind him because it goes beyond football a little bit with a significant injury like that.
“We are all crossing our fingers and toes and really supportive and confident in our sports science group but at the same time it’s about looking after the person.”
The Suns playing group have been filtering through the hospital since Day had surgery on Monday and defender Kade Kolodjashnij said the versatile big man would leave a huge hole in the team both on and off-field.
“It is a big loss,” Kolodjashnij said. “He was that swingman who could play forward and back when we needed him but there are definitely some players who can come in and fill that role.
“Internally he is respected among the playing group so highly and he has been here since the start.
“But we have to move on. There is still a long year ahead and hopefully we can have a successful season.”
Barlow said the signs were positive for a Gold Coast midfield boasting a level of depth they have never had before.
But he said the group needed more time together to become an AFL force.
“My early indications are that we need a bit more time together,” Barlow said.
“Looking at the Gold Coast midfield for a number of years it’s been really strong and there has been some real quality there but just the availability has been the issue.
“The depth is something that has been said publicly that we have gone out and attacked and got into the club.
“Now it’s about working on that synergy. All the indications are pretty positive at the moment.”