BLOW FOR SUNS GUN
INJURY ADDS TO GIANT PAIN:
GOLD Coast hope to have some midfield reinforcements available for senior selection for Saturday’s clash with the Kangaroos at Metricon Stadium but will lose young gun Jack Bowes for multiple weeks.
Bowes suffered a quad injury while attempting to kick for goal in the opening quarter of the Suns’ 19.12 (126) to 6.7 (43) loss to GWS in Sydney on Saturday.
The top 10 draft pick, who last week signed a bumper contract extension that ties him to the club for another six seasons, left the field immediately and took no further part in the game.
He has suffered the same injury once before.
Football manager Jon Haines said the club would have no idea of the extent of the injury until he was scanned today but conceded he was unlikely to play again before the bye.
Three or four weeks would be a great outcome because quads, especially on the kicking leg, can be troublesome and have cost players extended periods on the sidelines.
“We will have a look at it tomorrow but it looks like it’s a quad,’’ he said.
“He is going to miss some weeks. We are hoping for the best but we will have to wait and see.’’
But Haines said there was a bunch of players close to being available for coach Stuart Dew and his match committee to consider.
Vice-captain Touk Miller and veteran Jarrod Harbrow are strong chances to take on the Kangaroos, while high quality utility Callum Ah Chee may also come under consideration after completing his second NEAFL match on the weekend. He was unavailable for selection for the opening two months of the season.
New recruit Corey Ellis is another who will push for selection after having now played three games in the reserves after off-season groin surgery.
The midfielder, who played 27 games for the Tigers before heading north for more senior opportunities, arrived on the Gold Coast with the injury.
The Suns are also excited by Jez McLennan, who was the 23rd pick in last year’s draft and is flourishing in the NEAFL.