Gold Coast forward Alex Sexton will line up as the medical sub for the second week in a row for the Suns as they face Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday.
Sexton, a two-time club leading goal-kicker, has been on the fringe of selection in the past 12 months after being dropped on multiple occasions since the latter half of last year.
The 27-year-old has booted 135 goals from his 139 games for the Queensland club since making his debut in 2012.
Recruited from QAFL club Springwood, the Suns goalsneak has been a formidable attacking option for coach Stuart Dew over the past several seasons.
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Speaking to media earlier this week, Dew said that Sexton is an important role player for the club and is a strong asset as the medical sub.
"It's unfortunate for Secco (Sexton) but he was also aware we wanted to change the mix," Dew said, per AFL.com.au.
"The guys that played got the job done, so it's likely we'll look to reward those guys.
"He still will be (important).
"We anticipate he'll come back in and have an influence.
"We've got some young players that haven't played yet that potentially could be the sub, but in an ideal world for us they'd come into the 22, that's why Secco played 23rd.
Alex Sexton with the left 👟
Suns fight back within 4 points after the Eagles got the early jump. #AFLEaglesSuns pic.twitter.com/RbWgQsxrX4
— AFL (@AFL) March 21, 2021
"He might be that again because fitness will not be an issue with Alex.
"He'll want to go back and get some form if he's not playing, but also we're aware if he's a sub coming on, he's pretty handy for us."
Speaking on AFL Nation, Gerard Healy suggested that Sexton should look to the open market if he continues to be out-of-favour at the Suns.
“Alex Sexton has been a pivotal part of that club for a long time and his best is really good,” Healy said.
“He’s now been dropped three times in 12 months and he’s been dropped as the injury sub, so he didn’t play in last week’s win.
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“So he needs to go and sit down with the coach and re-affirm why he has been exited and if he can’t sort that out, he needs to put himself up for trade next year.
“He’s a good player but to become a very good player, he has to become a bit more consistent.”
Sexton signed a new deal with the Suns in May, 2019 that has him penned to the Gold Coast until the end of the 2023 season.
"I believe in the direction we are heading and I’m up for the challenges that are ahead of us," he said at the time of the signing.
