Top 10 pick Leo Lombard faces race to be fit for Opening Round

The top 10 pick who was “100 per cent in the frame” for an Opening Round debut is now racing against the clock to be fit.

Gold Coast Sun top draft pick Leo Lombard is in a race to be fit for Opening Round after he sustained a shoulder injury in Thursday night’s practice match.

Lombard, who was firming for an Opening Round debut, was in sparkling touch in the three-team match simulation before leaving the field clutching at his shoulder.

Suns forward coach Brad Miller declared Lombard was “100 per cent in the frame” for an immediate AFL debut before his shoulder concern.

Gold Coast assistant coach Shaun Grigg said Lombard would be sent for scans.

“The only thing we know is obviously shoulder, coming off (the ground), we don’t know the severity of it just yet,” he said.

Ready-made Gold Coast Sun draftee Leo Lombard is in a race to be fit for Opening Round. Picture: Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“We will get scans over the next couple of days, hopefully not too serious, he was going well out there.

“We’ll get those scans and assess early in the week.”

Gold Coast won both its matches against Brisbane and Collingwood, but it was how that impressed Grigg.

“I think the identifiable thing that came out was probably our pressure, that was really noticeable on the night from us,” he said.

“We were able to win those turnovers and get the ball back to score off them as well. It was great to play against opposition, bashing and crashing against ourselves for a period of time.

“To play some good teams, both the Lions and the Pies, it was good.”

Gold Coast hosts Essendon in Opening Round.