With David Swallow and Nick Malceski succumbing to knee injuries and a handful of changes predicted by Rodney Eade in the wake of the Gold Coast SUNS fourth straight loss, there’s set to be some changes at the selection table this week.

The reserves are also yet to register a win for 2015 in the NEAFL, but some players have mounted their case for senior selection during the early part of the season.

Through consistency of performance and genuine effort, three rookies may come under consideration for this weekend’s QClash game at Metricon Stadium.

Mature-aged SANFL recruits, Josh Glenn and Keegan Brooksby, along with former Brisbane and Richmond midfielder Andrew Raines are putting their names up on the back of a strong start to their seasons.

With Jaeger O’Meara sidelined for the remainder of 2015, and Swallow set for a long stint out of the game, the SUNS hierarchy have the option of promoting one or two players off the rookie list.

NEAFL coach Josh Fraser has provided his insights into the players who are putting their hand up for a spot in Eade’s 22.

Keegan Brooksby (29 hitouts, 19 disposals, 6 tackles, 6 clearances & 2 goals)

“He was terrific. Competed really well in the ruck, he’s just a true competitor in every sense of the word. He finished with two goals, just his effort over the course of the day I think he was one player who tried to lead the way. He’s primarily a ruckman, but he can be effective forward. Just his competitiveness makes him a standout.”

Henry Schade (19 disposals, 6 marks & 2 rebound 50s)

“He performed really well, he got beaten in a few one-on-ones but his effort just to get back on task and keep competing, chopping out marking, all the things he’s been doing really well he continued to do. Under the weight of a lot of inside 50s, so our defenders were under the pump a lot so I thought he held up really well. He’s the one player who when he’s got the footy in his hands it looks like something’s going to happen - he wants to take the game on and create.”

Jesse Lonergan (14 kicks, 15 handballs, 5 marks & 5 tackles)

“Jesse played at half-back for the second week in a row. He found plenty of the footy; I thought he played pretty well. He turned it over on occasions, but his effort was strong. His challenge is to continue to defend first and then work off from there, but I think he’s really starting to get that so we saw some really good signs from his performance. I think he might have found a role at half-back and he can go through the middle and provide some coverage.”

Andrew Raines (16 kicks, 12 handballs & 4 inside50s)

“He’s been super for us, he’s basically our captain down there, he leads the way extremely well. He finds plenty of the ball, he’s a good accumulator, but he also structures us up at stoppages and keeps our younger players really honest. He looks like he’s covering the ground really well and he’s been consistent with us.”

Mitch Hallahan (22 disposals, 7 clearances, 6 tackles & 5 inside 50s)

“First one back after his rib injury, probably took him a little while to find his feet, he got better and better as the game went on. He finished with seven clearances, so he did a lot of good work inside and I think as the game got on, he got better and better so I think he just needs a bit more footy but his performance was encouraging.”

Luke Russell (23 disposals, 5 clearances, 4 inside 50s & 4 tackles)

“Lukey found a fair bit of the footy again, his effort was high. When he runs and creates and provides some rebound for us he’s exciting, just need to balance his game out a bit more with some work inside and defensively, but he’s on the right track.”

Josh Glenn (24 disposals, 8 marks & 4 rebound 50s)

“Joshy was thrown around a bit this week, half-back, wing, mid, again he put together a fairly good game. He runs all day, so he’s got an appetite to work. He probably didn’t use the ball as well as he did the previous week, but he accumulated enough footy. He certainly can win the ball in tight and he looks like he belongs at that level and potentially AFL level.”

Jarrod Harbrow

The dashing utility is considered a chance to return this week after injurying his shoulder in round two against St Kilda. Harbrow trained on Tuesday, but will be put through an intensive fitness test at the main training session on Thursday to determine his availability. With the casualty list at Metricon Stadium not looking pretty, the return of Harbrow would be a bonus for the Gold Coast SUNS.