Richmond recruit Ellis fit, ready to fire for Coast
FORGOTTEN Suns recruit Corey Ellis is hopeful senior selection isn’t far away as he looks to put an injury-plagued start to his Gold Coast tenure behind him and build the form that will warrant elevation to the AFL side.
Ellis is now two games back from injury after successfully getting through Saturday’s Round 8 NEAFL game against Sydney at Metricon Stadium, where the Suns went down 17.14 (116) to 8.10 (58).
The 22-year-old underwent groin surgery before Christmas and made his return in a practice match against Palm Beach Currumbin on March 24, the same day as Gold Coast’s Round 1 AFL game against St Kilda, before injuring his ankle a week later against the Lions.
It put him out for six weeks but the former Richmond player is back, recording 17 disposals against the Swans.
Ellis, who is signed at the Suns until the end of 2020, was left frustrated by his injuries after joining the Suns in search of more opportunities at AFL level.
“It was pretty flattening. It wasn’t the ideal start,” Ellis said.
“The groin was an ongoing problem I have had for a couple of years. Surgery was always an option but we never really spoke about it too much at Richmond. The first month of pre-season (at the Suns) the problem continued so we opted to get it done.
“It has been pretty frustrating. You want to come to a club and make a real impact straight away and put your best foot forward but I haven’t been able to do that so far.
“It has been frustrating but the medical team and all the guys around me are really good and I’m really enjoying it up here.
“They enable me to get through it with a pretty good mindset.
“Hopefully now I can put my best foot forward. I missed a fair chunk of pre-season and most of the first half of the year. It takes a bit to get back into it and get back into the swing of things.
“I’m back now and my body is feeling as good as ever. I’ll hopefully get through the next couple of games and look to get some match fitness and form and hopefully senior selection isn’t too far away.”
Ellis spent the entire game against the Swans at halfback, where he expects to play at senior level, but he has also been used on the wing and through the midfield this year.