Gold Coast Suns coach Stuart Dew says reduced AFL game time could see best play for longer

Suns coach Stuart Dew says the best players could be on the ground for longer on the back of the reduced game time in the AFL.

SUNS coach Stuart Dew says the best players could be on the ground for longer on the back of the reduced game time in the AFL.

Dew said the reduction of AFL quarters to 16 minutes could result in the league’s most exciting players featuring in games for extended times.

“It will be interesting to see. I certainly we think it will allow the best players to be on the field for longer,” Dew said.

“If that comes to fruition then that is for us to find out in the next three or four weeks.

“For guys coming back from injury, we might be to get them back into the seniors quicker.”

There will be one major omission from Gold Coast’s Round 1 side with a hamstring injury forcing Izak Rankine to wait a little longer for his AFL debut.

Rankine was set to be available for selection for the Suns opening premiership game against Port Adelaide on Saturday at Metricon Stadium after working his way back from a shoulder injury.

But the number three draft pick, who missed out on playing senior football in 2018 due to hamstring injuries, has hurt his leg again.

The 19-year-old small forward reported soreness last week and scans confirmed the damage.

“Unfortunately Izak early last week had a hamstring incident,” Dew said.

Izak Rankine in action during a Gold Coast Suns AFL training session at Metricon Stadium on December 09, 2019 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/AFL Photos/Getty Images)

“How bad that is we are not sure. He is already back running. Given the short time frame that has occurred it will be a day-by-day.

“We are still working on what it looks like for Izak and building his resilience to an AFL program. We are all desperate to see him play.”

Dew said the club and Rankine were still working to find a program that would ensure his body held up to the requirements of AFL training and playing.

“It gets back to making sure that we get it right, his whole program,” Dew said.

THE HEAT ROOM - EP.5

DOWNLOAD YOUR 2020 SUNS TEAM POSTER

DEAL DONE, NOW WHERE TO PLAY FIORINI?

“When he is at the club and not at the club, we are getting that mix and working with him.

“It’s not unlike a lot of players who come in and take a while to adjust and get that combination of loads and being able to present for AFL standard football. That is an ongoing thing from our point of view and also Izak.”

Gold Coast will still roll out a number of debutants in the clash against Port Adelaide.

Brandon Ellis and Hugh Greenwood confirmed starters while draftees Matt Rowell, Noah Anderson and Connor Budarick are also set to debut.

Head Coach Stuart Dew during a Gold Coast Suns AFL training session at Metricon Stadium on March 19, 2020 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

“(Ellis and Greenwood) are part of the furniture so when we told the boys it felt a bit weird because they do feel like they have been here a long time,” Dew said.

“They have integrated really well and added to the group.”

Ruckman Zac Smith was in a moon boot at training after suffering some turf toe but with Jarrod Witts due to play the Suns will be well covered while Alex Sexton won’t play as he continues to recovery from a hamstring injury.