TOP-10 draft picks Jack Bowes and Ben Ainsworth are well placed to debut for Gold Coast in round one after impressive pre-seasons.
Suns coach Rodney Eade told AFL.com.au Ainsworth and Bowes had completed every training session since joining the club via picks No.4 and No.10 in last November's NAB AFL Draft.
Former Suns academy member Bowes' ability to quickly pick up game-plans and defensive systems has stood out this summer, while small forward Ainsworth has also thrust his name into round one calculations during match practice.
"Bowes and Ainsworth have done everything this pre-season and I think both of them would be in the mix for round one," Eade said.
"It's going to depend how they go in the JLT Community Series, how their form is.
"But they've certainly given themselves a chance."
Gold Coast's other two top-10 picks from last year's draft, Jack Scrimshaw and Will Brodie, are facing later starts to their AFL careers.
Scrimshaw, pick No.7 from Sandringham Dragons, has been eased into AFL life after an injury-plagued junior career that saw him miss the entire 2015 season following hip surgery and the start of last season with a foot issue.
"We knew that his body needed to be built up the right way, so we've given him a really solid base program," Eade said of the slightly built 194cm utility.
"He's just back running and has just started football work. He won't play his first game (in the NEAFL) until about round one or the bye weekend (between the end of the JLT series and round one)."
Brodie, pick No.9 from Murray Bushrangers, has been troubled by minor knee and hip niggles since joining the Suns, but recently resumed training.
"He'll take a while to find his feet but he's a very good player, so we're hopeful he'll be able to play some senior footy by mid-season," Eade said.
Fresh from re-signing with the Suns in December until the end of 2019, 2010's No.1 draft pick David Swallow has enjoyed his first full pre-season in three years.
Swallow has played only six senior games – none of them last season – since winning the Suns' 2014 best and fairest award, having been plagued by recurring right posterior cruciate ligament issues.
But after watching Swallow take part in match simulation this summer, Eade is confident the midfielder can put his injury woes behind him in 2017.
"Just on what we've seen we're pretty confident he's going to be able to have a good year," the Suns coach says.
"He's probably one we'll need to manage at some stage during the year, give him a game off here and there. But certainly what he's done so far has been encouraging.
"I reckon he'll play every JLT game. We'll build him up, probably give him half a game first match, then three-quarters and then a full game in the last match.
"He'll be like a new recruit for us."
AFL and club access members will have free general admission entry to JLT Community Series matches in which their club is competing (subject to availability, upgrade fees may be applicable). Click here to learn more.
