Touk Miller, Sam Flanders both still pushing for Opening Round

Sam Flanders and Touk Miller have been under injury clouds across the pre-season, but the Suns are hoping both will be available for Opening Round against Essendon.

Gold Coast expects vice-captain Touk Miller to be fit for Opening Round and is still holding out hope Sam Flanders will join him in midfield for the March 8 clash with Essendon at People First Stadium.

Miller (knee) and Flanders (back) have been on modified programs in recent weeks and sat out the intraclub simulations as well as last Thursday’s practice matches against Brisbane and Collingwood.

Both players trained away from the main group on Wednesday and will miss Friday night’s Community Series clash with Sydney.

But Suns assistant Shaun Grigg says Miller is in no danger of missing the season opener against Essendon next weekend, while there is still a level of optimism that Flanders could also feature.

Gold Coast Suns player Touk Miller in the club's new guernsey for 2025. Picture: Gold Coast Suns.

“(Miller) is going good. If (Friday’s match against Sydney) was a regular season game, he plays,” Grigg said.

“He’ll have an important session on Friday and then will look to fold back in (to main training). He’ll be right for Opening Round, no worries.

“(Flanders) is similar to Touk. He’s on his own program, progressing well. We’ll keep an open mind there.

“He’s got an important session on Friday with Touk. We’ll go session by session. We’re not ruling anything out – hopefully he’ll be there Opening Round.”

Grigg added the two midfielders were experienced enough at this point of their careers that the club was not concerned about a lack of practice match reps before considering them to play in a competitive game.

“Touk is a seasoned campaigner, he doesn’t need two practice matches to be right,” Grigg said.

Touk Miller could be available for Round 1. Picture: Michael Klein

“And Flanders is so important for us, so individual programs to get enough work into them to be right (is the plan).”

Key forward Jed Walter was held out of main training on Wednesday with groin soreness and was consigned to running laps but the club said it was just a precautionary measure.

Walter has a carry-over suspension from the VFL last season and will have to sit out Opening Round.

There was better news for key defender Charlie Ballard, who trained fully and appeared to have overcome the ankle injury that kept him out of last Thursday’s practice matches.

The Suns host Sydney at People First Stadium on Friday night for what will be their final tune-up game before next Saturday’s season opener against the Bombers.

Boom off-season recruit Daniel Rioli is expected to get his first minutes in a Suns jersey against the Swans.

Originally published as Touk Miller, Sam Flanders both still pushing for Opening Round