As opponents Collingwood struggle with a lack of bodies, Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew almost has too many fit players to choose from for Sunday’s AFL match at the MCG.
The sixth-placed Magpies’ finals hopes are slipping away after just one win from their past five matches while defender Isaac Quaynor (foot) and midfielder Jordan De Goey (hamstring) are both out of the clash with the Suns after picking up injuries in last weekend’s loss to Richmond.
Quaynor and De Goey join a lengthy list of unavailable players for Magpies coach Nathan Buckley but it’s better news for the last-placed Suns with a trio of players pushing to return this weekend.
While an ankle injury to Jack Hombsch suffered in last Sunday’s 10-point loss to Essendon has ruled the defender out for the season, speedster Jack Martin is almost certain to return after recovering from finger surgery.
Jack Bowes (quad) and Ben Ainsworth (foot) are also pushing for selection after coming through a reserves match last weekend unscathed.
“They’re in our best 22, put it that way,” Dew said of Bowes and Ainsworth.
“We’ll just weigh up how the whole mix looks and we’ve got a couple of guys that have missed some football so how many can you bring back after one run?
“We know with a month to go we want guys pushing for positions, putting pressure on each other, which will lift performance and competitiveness. Having these extra guys available is really good for us and strengthens our depth.”
The Suns pushed an in-form Bombers outfit all the way last weekend but defeat was their 14th in a row.
Despite Collingwood’s woes, Dew was expecting a tough challenge for his team in Melbourne with the Magpies desperate to find some form and halt their slide down the ladder.
“Collingwood are formidable regardless of who’s out there,” he said.
“They’re quite flexible in their team. They’re not going to change their style too much and back their system. We’ll prepare for the best because they’ve still got so much quality in their footy side.”