Did Gold Coast manage Jarrod Witts to get some game time into emerging ruckman Ned Moyle?
It’s a thought that crossed Josh Jenkins’ mind with Witts one of four Suns rested for Thursday’s clash against Geelong in Darwin alongside Jed Walter, Jake Rogers and Nick Holman.
While Jenkins conceded that rest management does occasionally happen at the spur of the moment, he thinks that the Suns would be okay with sitting Witts as they know the quality ruckman that they have on their hands in Moyle.
Jenkins thinks that the 22-year-old, who is out of contract at the end of the season, will be targeted by rival clubs this trade period and that the Suns will face a battle to keep him given Witts, their co-captain, is holding down the No. 1 ruck role.
“From Gold Coast’s point of view occasionally management does happen spur of the moment,” Jenkins said on SEN Sportsday.
“But I think they would have had Witts, who is getting on in his career now, they know Ned Moyle is an emerging ruckman and they like him a lot and they're going to have to fight hard to keep him.
“Teams are going to come hard for Ned Moyle. He's a very, very good ruckman, he's a very big guy, he's very aggressive, he’s from Victoria. So, they’re going to have a fight on their hands to keep him.
“So, getting him opportunities has certainly been at the forefront of their mind.”
Moyle has played one game so far in 2024 which came in the Round 2 loss to the Western Bulldogs in Ballarat.
Playing as the No. 1 ruck, Moyle had 14 disposals, 25 hitouts, four clearances and even kicked a goal in an even battle with All-Australian Tim English.
He’s played three career AFL games since being taken with pick No. 5 in the 2021 Mid-Season Draft.