Five Gold Coast Suns players worth a selection gamble in the AFL

With a plethora of new faces and young developing talent who have all played very little football together, finding the Suns best 22 will be no easy task for coach Stuart Dew. Here are the five unassuming talents who could be worth a selection gamble when Gold Coast’s Round 1 game rolls around on March 24.

THE Gold Coast Suns are the men of mystery going into 2019.

With a plethora of new faces and young developing talent who have all played very little football together, finding the Suns best 22 will be no easy task for Stuart Dew and his coaching department.

The Bulletin has been a keen observer of the team’s preseason campaign and we have come up with five unassuming talents who could be worth a selection gamble when Gold Coast’s Round 1 game rolls around on March 24.

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WIL POWELL: The 19-year-old is rarely spoken about outside of the Gold Coast but he is one of the most exciting young players on the Suns list. The wingman, who can play forward, has a knack for providing pieces of brilliance that would make any highlight reel while baffling his opponents.

Wil Powell celebrates victory during the round 18 AFL match between the Sydney Swans and the Gold Coast Suns at Sydney Cricket Ground on July 21, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images.

Powell’s physical development has been enormous since arriving as a lean 18-year-old from Western Australia last year and his running should allow him to better use his hand and foot skills in 2019. Taken with pick 19, received in the trade with Geelong for Gary Ablett, of the 107 draft, Powell played the last seven games of the 2018 season and looks ready to kick on.

CHARLIE BALLARD: A left-field option for Stuart Dew in the backline, Ballard has been one of the biggest surprise packets of the preseason. Ballard got a taste of senior footy at half-forward before transition into defence during his 11 AFL in his debut season in 2018.

Charlie Ballard of the Suns and Billy Gowers of the Bulldogs contest the ball during the 2019 JLT Community Series AFL match between the Gold Coast Suns and the Western Bulldogs at Great Barrier Reef Arena on March 03, 2019 in Mackay, Australia. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images.

With Gold Coast improving its depth in his position, it’s Ballard’s spot to lose. His performance in the intraclub and against Brisbane showed added maturity and his ability to follow team rules, intercept and deliver the Sherrin could see him cement a spot in 2019.

BRAYDEN FIORINI: On paper it may seem like the man who has played just 26 games is a gamble but his form in recent weeks has all but cemented him in the side and put him in line for a breakout season. It’s been a slow burn for this classy midfielder who is yet to really show the football world his quality.

Brayden Fiorini of the Suns kicks during the AFL pre-season practice match between the Gold Coast Suns and the Brisbane Lions at Metricon Stadium on February 23, 2019 in Gold Coast, Australia. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images.

Fiorini was hampered by injury in his first three seasons at the Suns, enduring a stress reaction in his ankle that restricted him to 11 games last year. But the 21-year-old has still managed to show glimpses of his potential. Fiorini played the first six games in 2018 before injury and the last five and tallied the equal-highest number of Brownlow Medal votes of any player at the Suns. A healthy preseason campaign has Fiorini primed to provide the composure and foot skills Gold Coast need in the centre of the ground.

DARCY MACPHERSON: Another plagued by injury early in his career. Macpherson was a bull in the forward line in 2018, playing the first five games and showing his tenacity and willingness to pressure his opponents in front of goal.

Darcy Macpherson (r) of the Suns celebrates after kicking a goal during the 2019 JLT Community Series AFL match between the Gold Coast Suns and the Western Bulldogs at Great Barrier Reef Arena on March 03, 2019 in Mackay, Australia. Picture: Hitchcock/Getty Images.

A broken leg ended his hopes of a breakout season but he managed to return via the NEAFL at the end of August before being crowned the Most Professional at Gold Coast’s club champion awards. Macpherson has stayed fit and healthy through the current preseason and with some other small forwards set to spend more time in the midfield, he could be one to let loose in front of goal.

BRAD SCHEER: A man who is under pressure but also on the brink of a breakout year. Scheer was put on to the rookie list for 2019 but has never looked fitter or stronger than he does now. He has grown his hair and his game throughout the preseason, putting in more added time than ever to improve his running game, body composition and skills in order to press for a spot in the senior side.

Jake Neade of the Power tackles Brad Scheer of the Suns during the Round 9 AFL match between the Gold Coast Suns and the Port Adelaide Power at the Adelaide Arena at Jiangwan Stadium in Shanghai, China, Saturday, May 19, 2018. Picture: AAP Image/David Mariuz.

The Palm Beach Currumbin product has played 10 games in two seasons and his career is on the edge of slipping away or pushing him forward. Scheer played largely at forward in his AFL games but in the midfield at NEAFL level with his education in the centre helping him progress.

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