SUNS’ SEASON IS NOW ON THE LINE

COAST AFL OUTFIT WALKS TIGHTROPE

TRENT McKenzie’s horror run of injury has continued with the Suns defender going down with a leg problem in his return to the NEAFL side.

The man known as “The Cannon” will get scans today to determine the extent of the injury suffered in the third quarter of Saturday’s 16.24 (120) to 4.8 (32) loss to the Sydney Swans at Newcastle Oval.

It adds to what has been a luckless year for the foundation Sun who is parked on 99 games for the club and yet to play AFL this year.

McKenzie hurt his calf in the club’s preseason interclub game and damaged his hamstring in April while playing for the Suns reserves against Aspley before his latest setback.

It follows a tough 2016 for the 25-year-old, who played seven games last season between a broken nose, ankle and quad problems, while also battling for selection when fit.

Rookie Ryan Davis became the second casualty from the game for the Suns after suffering a calf injury.

Gold Coast only went into the game with nine listed players and despite getting within four goals in the third quarter, couldn’t stop Sydney from kicking to a comfortable win.

Suns NEAFL coach Stephen Daniel was only full of encouragement for his inexperienced side stacked with academy and players from Gold Coast’s local leagues.

“The boys had a real crack for three quarters,” he said.

“In the third quarter we got within four goals and then the dam walls broke. We couldn’t hang on anymore.

“A team like Sydney can blow you away in five minutes just through using the ball so well. They make you really defend and spread hard. It caught a lot of our young fellas out.”

Darcy Macpherson was again among Gold Coast’s best along with Dan Currie and captain Keegan Brooksby.