By Murray Belkin

Nathan Ablett might have one more chance to ensure he remains on the Gold Coast list next year, according to coach Guy McKenna.

After the Suns first match at the MCG ended a five goals defeat to Melbourne, McKenna said the future of the 25-year old would come under serious consideration after the key forward struggled in the Suns' sixth consecutive loss.

In his first outing at the MCG since he played a starring role with his brother and now Gold Coast teammate Gary in Geelong's 2007 premiership success, Ablett managed just 11 disposals, one mark and one goal in his second game with the club.

With the club set to cut between six and eight players for next season, next week's clash against Hawthorn at Metricon Stadium could prove to be Ablett's final chance to earn him a spot with the Suns next season.

"It's going to have to be. We can't invent any more games for him," McKenna said in response to whether it was fair to judge Ablett's future with the club after just three games.

"We'll assess him and Joel Tippet, who didn't play today, but will probably play next week. Are two games enough for him as well? Probably not, but we have to make that call and that judgment.

"It's the nature of the beast."

But McKenna added the Suns will look at Ablett's efforts over the previous two years with the club.

"I think it's a life decision for Nathan as well as a footy decision. Whether he plays next week or not, we need to discuss the whole year and how his year has gone," McKenna said.

"He got injured early, got himself right and back, then he got injured again and now he has come back late in the season. We have to look at him over the last two years and how has he gone rather than the last two or three games he has played."

With the finishing line in sight for the Suns, McKenna said he was buoyed by his team's performance in the final quarter as it reduced the deficit at one stage to less than three goals.

"To start the way we did in the last quarter, there was certainly a flicker of fight from the fellas and if we kick a bit straighter who knows," he said

"They have come a long way but the load with the kids and the senior players, the tidal wave has hit that's for sure."

McKenna believes Suns supporters will be impressed with the development of his young charges as they look to build towards 2012.

"We think going forward there are some boys that we can trust now to play a whole season of footy next year, so that's pleasing," he said.

"I'm confident when they settle down as a midfield group, and our defenders and young forwards settle down, there will be some continuity and our chemistry will be better."