Injuries smashing AFL’s Suns again

Gold Coast coach Rodney Eade denies the AFL club is going through injury deja vu after losing Adam Saad, Michael Rischitelli and likely Dion Prestia for Saturday night’s clash with Geelong.

Rebound defender Saad is battling hip soreness but the bigger concern is Rischitelli, who subluxed his shoulder after landing heavily in a marking contest during last weekend’s loss to North Melbourne.

The Suns vice-captain will see a surgeon in Melbourne on Friday to determine if he needs to go under the knife to repair the small tear scans have revealed in his shoulder.

“It’s not an uncommon injury. Him being mentally tough, we do the right strength work, he should be able to play in a few weeks,” Eade said.

Prestia will be named in Gold Coast’s travelling squad for the Simonds Stadium clash but is in doubt because of a shoulder niggle.

He missed the Kangaroos defeat due to illness and won’t face the Cats unless he is 100 per cent fit, Eade said.

The triple injury hit comes on top of the ongoing absence of star on-ballers David Swallow (knee) and Jaeger O’Meara (knee), neither of whom have played a game this year.

The Suns are also down their best two defenders, with Steven May suspended for four more weeks and Rory Thompson out due to an ankle complaint.

It’s a familiar problem for the Suns, who were plagued by an incredible run of injuries last year, but Eade is staying positive.

“These aren’t really longer term. The next four or five weeks will be challenging but they’ll all be back after that,” Eade said.

“The group is positive. It’s just another challenge we’ve got to face.

“I was really pleased with how we accepted that challenge at the end of last year, we found some players, there’s no doubt we’ll find some more.

“I think there’ll be some positives that come out of it and we’re really looking forward to it.”

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