Gaz ready for Roos
Ablett primed to reach milestone at Metricon
GOLD Coast is confident Gary Ablett will return from injury to play his 300th AFL game against North Melbourne while star recruit Pearce Hanley could make a surprise recovery.
A tight calf stopped Ablett from celebrating the career milestone against St Kilda last Sunday but the dualBrownlow Medal winner got through training without a hitch yesterday and is tracking towards a return this Saturday at Metricon Stadium.
“As long as Gary continues to progress in the same manner over the coming days, we believe he will play on Saturday against North,” Suns football manager Marcus Ashcroft said.
“He still needs to get through a final fitness test at our training session on Thursday, but we’re really positive it will be good news.”
Hanley, one of Gold Coast’s best against the Saints, left the field in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s loss with hamstring tightness and didn’t return.
The club originally thought it was due to neural pain associated with tight hamstring and calves and were resigned to losing him for this weekend’s clash with the Kangaroos.
But the Irishman has shocked the club with his recovery so far this week.
Hanley will be put through a fitness test tomorrow to determine whether or not he plays.
“Pearce came off with a twinge in his hamstring and originally we thought that may have ruled him out,” Ashcroft said.
“However, we’re really pleased with his recovery so far, so he will be a test on Thursday and could possibly play.”
The news is not so good for first-team regulars Aaron Hall (hamstring), Brandon Matera (foot) and Kade Kolodjashnij (concussion), who are all unlikely to return for the Round 15 game.