It was a scary proposition. Had a full complement of midfielders been available, Gold Coast would have been evenly matched for class against West Coast, but even still struggled for the same depth. But in a phenomenal effort, an inexperienced and youthful midfield didn’t allow the Eagles star-studded engine room to wield their axe in a devastating manner.
 
Rodney Eade and the football department braced for the worst, hoped for the best and expected something in between. Instead, Harley Bennell led an inexperienced engine room, supported by first-year emerging star Touk Miller, inside midfielder Jesse Lonergan and a man who has spent his life across half-forward, Aaron Hall.
 
“We were very inexperienced last week in the midfield. You know Touk Miller who is in his first season; Jesse’s only played about 15 games or so. Aaron Hall’s virtually never played there. So for those guys to be able to stand up like they did,” Eade told SUNS TV ahead of Gold Coast’s clash with Brisbane.
 
Since returning to the senior side in round 14 against North Melbourne, Hall has found his feet after a slow start to the year. Having undergone two bouts of hip surgery at the end of last year, and not being able to run for five months, it took the Tasmanian time to catch up for a non-existent pre-season.
 
In the last fortnight he has collected 24 possessions each week – the most he ever has – thriving on an increased exposure to the midfield against a strong Adelaide and West Coast.
 
“Coming back off a big operation over the summer, really out of any adversity opportunity arises. When we were in Adelaide when Gary got injured, we didn’t have a lot of options in the midfield so we put Aaron in there,” Eade said.
 
“He acquitted himself well for the last half. The game after that he played really well in the midfield again. He was fantastic so it’s really pleasing.”
 
Lonergan is another Tasmanian who has been forced to fill a void in the midfield during Gold Coast’s injury calamity. Having been recruited as an onballer, Lonergan has made a seamless transition back into his favoured area of the ground.
 
Eade has used the 20-year-old in a variety of roles this season to expand his football education. The veteran mentor says Lonergan has made strong gains with his development, benefiting from playing all over the ground.
 
“Jesse’s got incrementally better each week. We started him down back, gave him an opportunity. We put him up forward for a few games,” Eade said.
 
“He was pleasing there against Adelaide as well. In the second half he did well in the midfield and he continued his form last week.
 
“We’re seeing some real growth in him. Going forward when we get our complement of midfielders back. There’s no doubt we’ll still play Jesse in there, but he can play other spots as well.”