Michael Rischitelli will play his first AFL match in 12 months after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament.
Senior coach Rodney Eade confirmed to reporters on Thursday the “heart and soul” of the Gold Coast SUNS would make his long-awaited comeback against Collingwood at Metricon Stadium this Saturday afternoon.
His last senior game was against Brisbane in the 2016 Round 16 QClash.
Rischitelli has featured for Stephen Daniel’s NEAFL team the past month, steadily building his match-conditioning and touch as he looks to reignite his 211-game career.
Pleasingly, he’ll be joined by a cavalry of returning SUNS, with former teammate Pearce Hanley and midfielder Aaron Hall also marking their return from respective hamstring injuries.
Champion playmaker Gary Ablett has been named in the final team sheet, but will require an additional fitness test on Friday before receiving the all clear.
Round 17 AFL Premiership Team
B: J. Harbrow, R. Thompson, P. Hanley
HB: T. McKenzie, S. May, A. Saad
C: M. Rischitelli, G. Ablett, M. Rosa
HF: J. Lyons, T. Lynch, C. Ah Chee
F: B. Ainsworth, P. Wright, J. Martin
FOLL: J. Witts, T. Miller, D. Swallow
INT: A. Sexton, S. Lemmens, J. Bowes, A. Hall
EMG: J. Lonergan, B. Fiorini, J. Scrimshaw
IN: G. Ablett, M. Rischitelli, P. Hanley, A. Hall
OUT: R. Davis (omitted), J. Lonergan (omitted), B. Fiorini (omitted), D. Macpherson (omitted)
