Ablett and May chance to play
SUNS stars Gary Ablett and Steven May will be given every opportunity to prove their fitness for Gold Coast’s Round 19 AFL clash with Richmond at home.
Gold Coast coach Rodney Eade said Ablett and cocaptain May, who have battled hamstring injuries, were put through fitness tests at Metricon Stadium last night and the club expects to make a final call on their availability in the hours before tomorrow’s game.
“We have named them,” Eade said.
“We won’t be taking any risks with them either so if they are not 100 per cent we won’t be playing them so we will have to wait and see.”
Ablett has managed to play just two of the past five games, missing the last three away trips, due to his hamstring problems between gathering 37 and 41 possessions against North Melbourne and Collingwood respectively.
Eade said the risk of doing further damage by travelling interstate played a role in the decision to withdraw him from the past three away games.
“If you got a hamstring issue or a back issue – or any sort of muscular stuff – obviously the flight plays some sort of role in that,” Eade said.
“But he seems pretty confident he will be able to play this week. He is really keen to play this week and he is keen to the play the week after so hopefully he can get through training and be OK.”
Gold Coast are in 15th spot and out of the race for finals but Eade, whose position is being reviewed, said the spirit remained strong with his playing group.
“We have proven over the last two seasons when we have had a lot of injuries that players have played it right to the finish,” Eade said.
“I was really pleased with their effort and intensity up to three quarter time.
“We had plans last week that they executed well. So you give them a focus, give them plans on how we can win and be competitive. If we don’t get more injuries to players during the game I think we can see it out OK.”
WE HAVE PROVEN OVER THE LAST TWO SEASONS WHEN WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF INJURIES THAT PLAYERS HAVE PLAYED IT RIGHT TO THE FINISH ... SUNS COACH RODNEY EADE