Fracture sidelines young Sun

DARCY Macpherson’s most successful start to a season has come to a dramatic halt, with scans revealing a fracture in the Gold Coast Suns small forward’s lower leg.

Macpherson (pictured) limped from the field in the second quarter of Gold Coast’s five-point win over Brisbane on Sunday at the Gabba.

Suns staff originally believed Macpherson had hurt his ankle but upon further inspection have discovered a break in the 20year-old rookie’s fibula in his right leg.

Club officials believe it could take over 12 weeks for Macpherson to recover, ending his hopes of finally putting together consistent senior football in his third year at the club.

Suns coach Stuart Dew said Macpherson set the tone for Gold Coast’s win over the Lions with two goals in the opening 10 minutes and conceded the Suns would miss him going forward.

“Unfortunately for Darcy he has worked his way in to the side through the preseason and I thought he really did set the tone for us,” Dew said.

“We missed him (on Sunday) and we will miss him going forward. He is a good lad.”

Macpherson, the son of former footscray player Stephen Macpherson, was taken by the Suns with pick 21 of the 2015 rookie draft but played just four and eight games respectively in his opening two seasons under Rodney Eade.

But Macpherson’s reputation as a high-energy forward with good tackling pressure has seen him thrive under Dew.