Best 23s: Predicted teams for how each club will line up in round 3

The Suns’ MCG credentials will get an early test this weekend, but Damien Hardwick will have some bullets to fire at the selection table. Check out every club’s predicted 23.

Gold Coast could welcome back a trio of stars for Saturday’s clash with Melbourne at the MCG in what looms as a crucial early test of the Suns’ 2025 credentials after their statement win in the west a fortnight ago.

Vice-captain Touk Miller says Sam Flanders, Mac Andrew and Jed Walter are all poised to return from injury and suspension to bolster the side that romped to a club record 87-point victory over West Coast in round one.

Last week’s bye gave the Suns an extra week to nurse Flanders (back) and Andrew (chest) back to full health, while Walter will get his first opportunity of the season after serving a one-game suspension carried over from an incident in the VFL last year.

Andrew was subbed out in the opening minute of the Suns’ pre-season match against Sydney after a heavy collision in a marking contest. He was eager to make the trip to Perth to face the Eagles, however the Suns chose to play it safe with their $10m man and wait until after the bye to bring him back into the side.

His return comes at the perfect time following the unfortunate season-ending ACL injury to Charlie Ballard, which leaves Andrew and vice-captain Sam Collins as the two senior key defenders on the list.

Whether coach Damien Hardwick chooses to call on Caleb Graham to fill the third tall role or goes with a smaller backline in lieu of Ballard remains to be seen. More likely it will be a match-up dependent decision.

If not this weekend, Graham would almost certainly come into calculations for the round four clash with the Crows and their three-pronged key forward set up.

Mac Andrew will be one of the big Suns inclusions. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Second-year key forward Walter will rejoin the Suns’ attack to partner Ben King and Ethan Read, who combined for eight goals against the Eagles.

And capping off the inclusions is Flanders, who needs only to tick the boxes at main training on Thursday to confirm his return to the Suns’ high functioning midfield following a frustrating pre-season in which he battled a bulging disc in his back.

“It’s fantastic having him back,” Miller said of Flanders.

“I’m just happy for him. I know what it’s like to be in rehab for an extended period of time.

“I think for Sammy it has been a bit of a long road. It goes under the radar when it’s in the pre-season, no one probably hears a lot about it. I am looking forward to having him in the team.”

Flanders became one of the Suns’ most important players last season, beginning the year in midfield before a brief stint across halfback, only to return to his tried and true on-ball role late in the season.

The 23 year old’s incredible versatility has made him one of Hardwick’s favourites and Miller says Flanders’ return will add another gear to the engine room.

“We will obviously now have four really strong midfielders that can compete in the contest and outside,” Miller said.

“The importance of having Sammy back is it gives us that flexibility so not even just for myself, but for Noah (Anderson), for Rowelly (Matt Rowell), we can flip positions a bit more.”

GIANT INCLUSIONS LOOM FOR HAWKS BLOCKBUSTER

- Lachlan McKirdy

High-profile Giants recruit Jake Stringer is tracking well to make his long-awaited debut as the club prepares for their top-of-the-table clash against Hawthorn.

It might only be round three, but all eyes will be on Launceston on Saturday night as the Hawks host Adam Kingsley’s side. The match is set to feature two teams that promote an entertaining brand of footy, and the Giants will likely travel to Tasmania with some handy reinforcements.

Stringer, 30, had one of the strongest pre-seasons of his career but was flattened out by a relatively debilitating illness for almost a fortnight. That included having to go to hospital for some routine testing.

Jake Stringer and Jesse Hogan are in line to face the Hawks. Picture: Phil Hillyard

However, once he got back on the track, he suffered some hamstring tightness in the opening minutes of a VFL practice match against Southport. Given his injury history, the Giants took no chances with Stringer and immediately put him on ice.

He has rehabbed the injury strongly and been put through plenty of training loads and is finally eyeing a first appearance in the orange and charcoal. His craft both in the Giants’ forward line and pinch-hitting in the midfield will be a massive boost to a side looking to claim a big early scalp in 2025.

But Stringer is likely not to be the only big name to return for GWS. Stringer is set to be joined in the forward line by reigning Coleman Medallist Jesse Hogan after he managed a fracture in his thumb for the past three weeks.

For Hogan, the main issue has been dealing with pain management but the 30-year-old has still been training and working on his set shots.

Kieren Briggs has also progressed well through his concussion protocols after the incident which saw him carted from the ground against Collingwood in opening round.

The trio will all still have to get through this week’s training, particularly the Giants’ main session on Thursday, but it’s handy cavalry for Kingsley to call on for such a big clash. They’ve also benefited from having the bye week to get an extra seven days to focus on their recovery.

Originally published as Best 23s: Predicted teams for how each club will line up in round 3