Five untested talents worth trialling in AFL for the Gold Coast Suns

With six games left in the season and the Suns list in dire need of shaking up, this could be the perfect time to trial some of the club’s youngest talent to see what they can do. Here are five untested young players who could be worth rolling the dice with in the coming weeks.

GOLD Coast have slumped to a 12th straight defeat and under threat of falling short of last season’s humble record of four wins.

Senior players are out of form, many of their best are injured and their first wooden spoon since 2011 looks likely.

Coach Stuart Dew didn’t wield the axe at the selection table after the 92-point loss to Richmond but the 95-point loss to Adelaide on Saturday was as bad as they come.

With six games left in the season and the list in dire need of shaking up, this could be the perfect time to trial some of the club’s youngest talent to see what they can do.

Here are five untested young players who could be worth rolling the dice with in the coming weeks.

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MITCH RIORDAN: Taken with pick 2 of the AFL’s mid-season draft, Riordan has done nothing but impress since arriving at the club in May. The 19-year-old has shown his ability in the contest and it’s something senior coach Stuart Dew needs more of at AFL level. He has had three games in the NEAFL and could be worth a shot in the AFL. Riordan may not have the endurance for the top level yet and would need to be considered on restricted minutes.

Gold Coast mid-season draftee Mitch Riordan (left) at Suns training. Picture: Supplied.

SAM FLETCHER: Another midfielder who has been unlucky with injury. Fletcher’s first season with the Suns has been hindered by ankle and quad problems but he made his return through the NEAFL on Saturday where he did some nice work inside the contest. If he can stay injury free and build some fitness the young talent could be worth a try.

Sun's player Sam Fletcher during training at Metricon Staium on the Gold Coast. Photograph : Jason O'Brien

JEZ MCLENNAN: Pick 23 of last year’s national draft, McLennan has been building his game and engine throughout the 2019 season with the reserves. He has 12 games under his belt and has started grasping the Suns style of play in the back half of the year.

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A move into the senior side could provide the South Australian with some important education of AFL football while releasing players like Lachie Weller who could spend more time playing through the midfield.

Gold Coast Suns player Jez McLennan during one of the club's NEAFL games. Picture credit: TJ Yelds, NEAFL.

CALEB GRAHAM: One of the better performers for the Suns reserves in recent weeks. Graham is a 195cm tall defender who came through Gold Coast’s academy and hails from Cairns. Gold Coast have been vastly undersized in the backline due to injuries to Rory Thompson and Sam Collins, leaving Jack Hombsch (192cm) and Charlie Ballard (195cm) to try and fill the void.

Gold Coast Suns player Caleb Graham.

CONNOR NUTTING: An intriguing Gold Coast talent, taken with pick 55 of the 2017 national draft.

Sun's player Connor Nutting during training at Metricon Staium on the Gold Coast. Photograph : Jason O'Brien

The Broadbeach product started his career playing as a halfback for the Suns reserves but a shift to half-forward has done his game wonders in 2019. Gold Coast have struggled to score this year and they could do a lot worse than testing Nutting’s impact in the AFL.

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