New faces everywhere as Suns meet Demons

New look teams will be the order of the day when Gold Coast take on Melbourne at the MCG on Saturday.

The Suns head south with five players set to make the debut for the club, including three AFL debutants, the most new faces in a Gold Coast line-up since their inaugural match in round two, 2011.

Experienced recruits Nick Malceski and Mitch Hallahan will both make their first starts for their new club while mature-aged rookie Adam Saad and draftees Touk Miller and Jarrod Garlett are the set for their first senior game.

The Demons will also boast a revamped line-up with seven new faces, including another trio of AFL debutants.

Key forward Jesse Hogan, No.3 draft pick Angus Brayshaw and mature rookie-listed player Aaron Vandenberg will play their first AFL match while 2010 Collingwood premiership player Heritier Lumumba, ex-Carlton player Jeff Garlett, former Giants defender Sam Frost and ex-Power midfielder Ben Newton have been named for the hosts.

Malceski, a 2012-premiership player with Sydney, says his move to Gold Coast has been just the tonic to extending his AFL career.

“It’s something that has freshened me up,” he said.

“Especially moving interstate as well. To come up to the Gold Coast has definitely freshened me and my family up. Really looking forward to the next three years.”

The Suns have won just two of their seven matches at the MCG, but both those wins have been against the Demons.

The visitors will also be boosted by the return of superstar captain Gary Ablett, named to play his first AFL game since injuring his shoulder against Collingwood last July.

The dual Brownlow Medallist is sure to attract plenty of attention from the Demons to test out the strength of his shoulder but Malceski says that will be nothing out of the ordinary for Ablett.

“He’s copped it his whole career because he’s one of the best,” Malceski said.

“When you are like that you’re going to get treatment off your opposition.

“We’ve just got to do as much as we can to try and restrict that and help him out as much as possible.

“Obviously Gaz is one of the best in the AFL. To be able to play with him in his team will be good, rather than in the opposition.”

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