Battered Suns not looking for sympathy

Gold Coast coach Rodney Eade says he's hopeful Harley Bennell can recover from a knock to the knee to face Collingwood next week.

Gold Coast coach Rodney Eades

Gold Coast coach Rodney Eade (pic) has confirmed Harley Bennell is no guarantee to return next week. (AAP)

Gold Coast are in a world of pain, but coach Rodney Eade doesn't expect people to feel sorry for them.

The Suns remain mired near the foot of the AFL table after copping a 92-point hiding from West Coast in Perth on Saturday night.

Gold Coast conceded 12.0 in the third quarter alone, with the performance one of their worst since entering AFL ranks in 2011.

The Suns had just 18 points to their name at three-quarter time before adding some junk-time goals in the final term.

The month ahead looks even more painful for the Suns, with games against Collingwood, Hawthorn, Sydney, and Fremantle to come.

Gold Coast's horrid run on the injury front has played a major role in their demise this season, with stars such as Gary Ablett, Nick Malceski, Jack Martin, David Swallow, and Jaeger O'Meara among a bulging injury ward.

And silky midfielder Harley Bennell could be added to that list after copping a heavy knock to his knee against the Eagles.

Eade said he felt sorry for his team's young defence during West Coast's onslaught on Saturday night.

But he knows his team won't receive much sympathy from rival clubs.

"There is nothing in the rule book that says people have to feel sorry for us," Eade said.

"It is a concern when you have got so many players who can use the ball who are out of the side.

"It just exposes guys who are being asked to play roles they are probably not used to.

"We are getting thin on the ground to be honest.

"But we have to regroup and hopefully get a few players back next week."

Forward Tom Lynch (calf) and Luke Russell (illness) are expected to return against the Magpies, but Ablett is still weeks away as he struggles to recover from a shoulder issue.

Meanwhile, West Coast are shaping as a top-four smoky after their fourth win on the trot kept them in second spot on the table.

The Eagles will start as hot favourites in Saturday's clash with St Kilda at Etihad Stadium, and they'll have a fresh Jeremy McGovern and Josh Kennedy to unleash against the Saints.

McGovern was a late withdrawal from the Suns' clash because of a corked calf, while Kennedy was subbed out late in the third quarter as part of a preservation plan.

"The elbow is still recovering," Simpson said of the injury Kennedy suffered two weeks ago.

"So to get full recovery, he needs to get through four to six weeks.

"We've just got to make sure when we see an opportunity to give him a break, we take it.

"It was a good suggestion from our medical staff.

"Kennedy wasn't too pleased, but I think we get a fresh JK next week."


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Source: AAP


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