RISCHITELLI HAS A REVIVAL AT LONG LAST
STALWART Michael Rischitelli will enjoy an AFL swan song after being called up to play for the Suns against Adelaide at Metricon Stadium tomorrow night.
The foundation Sun and former Lions best and fairest winner was delisted at the end of last year and then resigned on a one-year-deal to the rookie list by Gold Coast to help mentor their younger players in the NEAFL.
However his form could no longer be ignored and with the senior side producing an insipid effort against the Tigers last week, the rugged 33-year-old was called up for his 126th Suns game and 237th overall.
He joins pressure forward Sean Lemmens as the new faces replacing injured pair Jack Martin and Wil Powell.
Key forward Peter Wright, who recently signed a lucrative new deal with the club, remains in the NEAFL.
The club has received some good news with No.3 draft pick Izak Rankine extending his contract through to the end of the 2022 season.
Although yet to feature at the top level in 2019 due to injury Rankine said he had no hesitation in committing his future to the club.
“The club and Gold Coast community has been fantastic to me and I had no hesitation in extending my time at the club,” 19-year-old Rankine said. “Since I’ve arrived, I’ve loved my time on the Coast. I’ve learnt so much about footy and my body and am looking forward to continuing that over the coming years.
“There have been so many different people who have invested their time in me, I can’t wait to repay them.
“As a group of players, we’re all really tight and that’s definitely a footy club I want to be around.”