May to bolster backline
CO-CAPTAIN Steven May is set to provide a muchneeded boost to the Gold Coast Suns in Saturday night’s clash with Collingwood at Metricon Stadium.
The Suns fullback is expected to return to the side after missing the past three matches with an ankle injury.
Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew said he was happy to recall the defender – assuming he successfully came through last night’s training session.
“We’re anticipating he’s available for selection,” Dew told the Suns website last night.
“If he’s out there he’ll be really handy to play on the talls and smalls and he enjoys that challenge.”
Rory Thompson is also likely to return from the hamstring injury that kept him out of last weekend’s loss against Hawthorn but Sam Day is likely miss a couple of weeks with a shoulder injury.
The Suns defence will be hoping to contain Collingwood’s most wanted, Jordan De Goey, who will run out at Metricon Stadium with a multimillion-dollar offer to live up to.
North Melbourne are reportedly set to offer the young midfielder a five-year deal worth $1 million a season.
De Goey’s management continues to negotiate with Collingwood, which is prepared to offer him a contract of that length.
But given its commitments to other players, Collingwood would likely be unable and unwilling to match the numbers offered by the Kangaroos.
North Melbourne’s Scott Thompson said yesterday he would love a player of De Goey’s talent at the club, but AFL legend Leigh Matthews said that figure was hard to justify.
“I don’t think I’d be paying Jordan De Goey $1 million a year – he may not even be in the top 50 players in the game right now,” he said.