Suns hit by Hanley blow for trip west
GOLD Coast have been dealt a blow ahead of footy’s toughest road trip, with Pearce Hanley ruled out of tomorrow’s clash with West Coast.
He is one of three changes to the side after the Suns reacted to the heavy QClash loss by dropping number two draft pick Jack Lukosius and midfielder Will Brodie.
Wil Powell and Anthony Miles return from injury, while Aaron Young has earned a start after a standout start to the NEAFL season.
Lukosius will make the trip to Perth as an emergency alongside Chris Burgess.
Fellow draftee Izak Rankine will also travel but the Suns say he is there to experience a trip with the team and is not in consideration for a shock call-up.
Rankine is expected to return to football in the NEAFL next week.
Foundation player Sam Day was again overlooked and must now be questioning his future on the Coast.
The Suns have opted for state league recruits Burgess and then Josh Corbett, and even with Peter Wright in poor form and Lukosius’ omission, he was still not selected.
Hanley injured his shin in his 150th game against Adelaide two weeks ago but pushed through the pain to take on his former club Brisbane in last week’s QClash.
Suns coach Stuart Dew likened the injury to “walking around a caravan park and you kick a tow bar”.
However the effort came at a price, with residual swelling and bruising restricting his ability to train this week and ruling him unavailable for the clash with the reigning premiers.
“It really bruised up significantly and it has cost him,’’ he said.
“As it stands Pearce won’t come up. He did a good job to come up last week but he has pulled up too sore and it is a bit dicey to take him all the way to Perth and then sit him out. It is better to let him recover and it provides another opportunity for someone.’’
After two weeks out, Powell came straight back into the side for the game back in his home town of Perth.
Dew revealed Powell was available last week but the club opted to take a conservative approach and give him another week off.
He did not play in the NEAFL.
“He was effectively cleared last week, but we decided to give him another week,’’ Dew said.
(HIS SHIN) REALLY BRUISED UP SIGNIFICANTLY AND IT HAS COST HIM. COACH STUART DEW