Three Jacks please
A couple more Martins a winning hand, says Eade
RODNEY Eade wishes he had three Jack Martins. The one he has is expected to reach a level that equals the hype this year.
Martin is entering his fourth year in the AFL and backing up from a career-best season where he played 21 games and finished third in the club’s best and fairest.
The 22-year-old arrived aged 17 and was given an unprecedented five-year deal as the club looked to lock in a player they believed was a star in the making.
Injury and immaturity led to some early inconsistency but the Suns now believe they have the player they predicted Martin would become.
“Certainly the expectations are internally that he will improve from last year,” Eade said.
“He has had a very good pre-season ... so with his ability to go forward and back I think he can have a major impact on the team.”
Martin, who re-signed until the end of 2019 earlier this month, began as a forward but can now add quality across all areas of the ground.
Eade said Martin would likely play in nearly all roles against Essendon in Mackay tomorrow as he returns from a minor back issue that kept him out of Gold Coast’s first JLT Community Series game against Brisbane.
“I’d like to have three Jacks. One back, one forward and one in the midfield,” Eade said.
“He will get time in all three areas to be honest and I don’t think he will probably settle in one spot.
“He missed last week with his back so we will just ease him through. We will give him three quarters of the game and build him up to the third game and let him get a full game then.”
Meanwhile, Sam Day has returned home from hospital after dislocating his hip against Brisbane last Sunday.
Day had surgery on Monday and Eade said the club was hopeful his recovery would be less than a year.
“I spoke to him on Wednesday and he seemed to be in good spirits,” Eade said.
“He got out of hospital earlier than we thought. He has just got to take his time with his rehab and make sure we get it right. We are hopeful it will be less than 12 months but we will wait and see.”
Eade said the club would likely still go with two talls in the forward line and one ruckman following Day’s injury but would likely need to get creative if they lose another big man at either end of the ground.
The Suns could then bring in Jack Leslie or go with a smaller forward line that premiers Western Bulldogs used so successfully in 2016.
Midfield recruit Jarryd Lyons will miss his second preseason game due to an achilles problem but is expected to play game three against the Bulldogs while Eade said his spot was secured for Round 1.
Tom Lynch will be rested after picking up a minor foot complaint against Brisbane while defender Trent McKenzie (Baker’s Cyst) will also miss Sunday’s game.
I’d like to have three Jacks. One back, one forward and one in the midfield SUNS COACH RODNEY EADE