ROOKIE’S CHANCE
INJURY PUTS SUNS TEEN INTO FRAME
MICHAEL Barlow’s season-ending leg injury has opened the door for in-form Gold Coast rookies Darcy Macpherson and Ryan Davis to stake their claim for a spot on the Suns senior list.
Gold Coast will have the option of putting Barlow, who fractured the fibula in his left leg in the Suns’ loss to Carlton on Saturday, on the longterm injury list and elevating a rookie in his absence.
Suns football manager Marcus Ashcroft said it was something the club would look at doing but only when, and if, a rookie was considered to be in their best 22 leading into any given game.
“We probably will (elevate a rookie) but at the moment we haven’t even spoken about it,” Ashcroft said.
“You wouldn’t do that they are going to play footy.
“It would be a match committee decision and you would only ever elevate someone if they are going to be picked to play in the senior team so it would be on a week-to-week basis.”
Suns coach Rodney Eade has been public about his ambition to reward form and has previously said Macpherson would have already earned a call-up at stages this season if not for his rookie status stopping it from happening.
The 19-year-old small forward has been prolific for Gold Coast’s NEAFL team, averaging 30.6 disposals and 1.3 goals a game.
Macpherson has been named best on ground three times for Gold Coast and among the best on five other occasions from his 10 games.
Davis could also be another good option if Eade is looking for an older and more hardened body to replace the experienced Barlow.
The 28-year-old former West Coast Eagles, who played 19 games in his first year at the club in 2016, has carved his career out as a forward but has spent times at halfback for Gold Coast’s NEAFL team this season in a bid to become more versatile. unless