Sunny side up as Gaz returns
GARY Ablett has begun contact work to test out his shoulder as the Gold Coast Suns remain on track to have nearly their whole list available for Round 1.
Ablett took another step towards his scheduled return via Game Three of the JLT Community Series by testing his left shoulder in contests for the first time since having a second surgery at the end of last year.
“He is fine,” Suns coach Rodney Eade said.
“He started contact work earlier in the week so ... he will have a couple of weeks of that and then he will play the last game (of the JLT series).”
Midfielder Michael Rischitelli (ACL) may be the only player unavailable for selection in Round 1 at this stage as Eade looks to go into the season with the healthiest list he has ever had during his two years at the club.
Alex Sexton (wrist), Jarryd Lyons (achilles), Trent McKenzie (Baker’s cyst) and Peter Wright (finger) won’t play in this Sunday’s pre-season game against Brisbane Lions at the Broadbeach Cat’s home ground of Merrimac Oval but will be ready for Game Two.
Jarrod Harbrow is also expected to be ready for the premiership season as he returns from an ankle recon- struction. David Swallow will likely play half a game tomorrow before increasing his time on the field throughout the series as he returns from serious knee injuries.
Eade said around eight spots were still up for grabs going into the pre-season competition as he looks to use his current situation to apply game style he was unable to do in his first two years due to widespread injury.
“The difference is we have players on the park,” Eade said yesterday.
“Our game plan last year changed a bit – even during the year depending on personnel – so we sort of had to cut our cloth to what we had available.
“If we have got a reasonably full complement of players you will probably see us play a little bit differently.
“It’s probably the way we hoped to play in the past but we weren’t able to at times.”