A club's best recruit doesn't always come from the draft or the trade table. More often than not, the best recruits come from the rehab group - a player returning to the main group after a long injury layoff.
We analyse some of the competition's best players set to return from injury in 2026.
10Charlie Ballard
After being drafted at Pick 42 in 2017, Ballard has developed into a reliable key defensive option for the Suns, where he has played 134 games. An ACL injury sustained in Round 1 this year cruelly ended his season.
Ballard has developed a reputation as a strong one-on-one defender and has formed a nice key defensive combination with Sam Collins. Intercept marking is also a feature of his game, having averaged three intercept marks per game across his career.
If he can return to full fitness, Ballard looms as an important inclusion for the Suns in 2026, adding stability and experience to their defence. His ability to lock down key forwards while also impacting in the air makes him an important piece as Gold Coast look to build on its breakthrough 2025 season.
