The injury curse struck again this week with ball magnet Dion Prestia becoming the latest player to be felled by injury. But it has begun to subside in recent weeks and Jack Martin is one player considered a strong chance of returning this week. Martin has missed the last three weeks due to an ankle injury, but trained strongly on Saturday and Tuesday to appear all but certain of returning against Hawthorn in Tasmania on Saturday afternoon.

After being dropped following the Gold Coast’s disappointing loss to West Coast in Perth in round seven, dashing midfielder Matt Shaw responded in emphatic fashion in the NEAFL. Opposed to a host of highly rated, top-end draft picks from Greater Western Sydney, Shaw was the most prolific player on the ground, collecting 38 possessions, eight clearances and six inside 50s to put his hand up for an immediate recall to the senior side.
 
Andrew Boston’s professionalism came under attack at the end of the pre-season, but the highly skilled local product has mounted a case for senior selection on the back of a handful of impressive showings in the reserves. On Saturday in Blacktown, Boston gathered 34 disposals, a game-high 11 clearances, seven inside 50s and six tackles. A full rounded performance in every sense of the word.
 
Mature-aged rookie Keegan Brooksby was elevated to the primary list last week, causing innuendo and murmurs to run rife regarding his chance of being a late inclusion against Collingwood. He didn’t face the Magpies, but did his debut chances no damage by booting 3.2 against the Giants after spending more time forward. Brooksby still accumulated 17 hitouts and 14 disposals, but his potency in attack could suggest he is being groomed as a second ruckman who can push forward in the seniors.
 
Greg Broughton was another player to respond to his omission in an impressive manner on the weekend. The defender was brought in as a late inclusion against the Eagles, but was sent back to the NEAFL where he put his hand up for an instant recall by gathering 28 possessions in a reliable performance down back against the Giants.
 
Despite the injury plague at Metricon Stadium, the football department have steered clear of rushing Peter Wright into the senior line up. Instead, sticking to their assertion of developing him properly in the NEAFL. On Saturday, Wright produced the finest performance of his year to date, kicking 4.2 from 12 disposals and six marks. With Charlie Dixon and Tom Lynch on the park, and contributing strongly, there is no urgency to bring Wright into Rodney Eade’s side at this point in time.