Ailing Ainsworth to sit this one out
THE Gold Coast Suns have lost youngster Ben Ainsworth for their clash with North Melbourne on Sunday.
The 20-year-old Ainsworth will be rested as a precautionary measure.
“He’s just a bit sore in his lower leg so we’re probably reasonably precautious with it,” Suns coach Stuart Dew told the club’s website last night.
“We’ll let it settle down over the weekend and hopefully get him back on track next week.”
Teenager Jacob Dawson has also been omitted after playing two AFL matches. “He was really excited to play and get an opportunity,” Dew said.
“He’ll be much better for the run and it was good to give him a taste of not just one game, give him a couple of games to see what it’s about and then take that back to the NEAFL.”
Dawson, 18, made his debut against Hawthorn on June 23 and kicked a goal in the Suns’ loss to Collingwood at Metricon Stadium last weekend.
Dew said six players had come into the squad including Callum Ah Chee, who was available after withdrawing for personal reasons for the match against Collingwood.
Jacob Heron, Will Brodie, Jesse Lonergan, Jack Leslie and Jack Scrimshaw have also been named on an extended interchange of eight.
The final team will be announced this afternoon.
The Gold Coast take a nine-game losing streak to Melbourne for the clash at Etihad Stadium but have squared the ledger with the Kangaroos since entering the competition.
The tally stands at five wins apiece. The Suns have managed more than 10 goals only once in their past six games and, clearly, could do with injured co-captain Tom Lynch in attack.
By contrast, the Roos are fifth in the league for scoring.
One of the highlights of the match will be the clash between Kangaroos spearhead Ben Brown and Suns defender and co-captain Steven May.
Brown kicked only two goals against the Bombers last week but is capable of a big haul on his day.
May returned last week from a month out because of injury.
Meanwhile, Jarrad Waite’s future remains unclear after North Melbourne coach Brad Scott was yesterday unable to forecast when the veteran would return from a calf injury.
Waite, who has been injury-prone throughout his 240-game career, has been on the sidelines since withdrawing from the Round 11 clash against Brisbane Lions.
Waite, 35, will be out of contract at the end of 2018 and talks about next season are on hold.