His teammates can’t wait to have him back but Gold Coast aren’t rushing the comeback of AFL young gun Matt Rowell.

Rowell has been working so hard on his rehab from the shoulder injury that ended his 2020 campaign in recent weeks he’s been placed on light duties as the Suns’ first-to-fourth year players got their pre-season underway on Monday.

The 19-year-old is being kept away from any contact work until after Christmas but was part of the group that got their pre-season underway in humid conditions.

While Rowell is yet to return to full training, he’s been a constant presence at the club during the off-season and his insatiable work ethic has defender Charlie Ballard excited about what the teenager can achieve in 2021.

“He’s built different ... you saw in the first four games how good he is,“ Ballard said.

“In rehab he’s worked really hard to get his shoulder back. It’s going to show on the field.

“He’s got a bit of a hungry mentality. You look at a bloke like Kobe Bryant and I’d sort of compare him to that.

“He’s a workhorse and he’s been working really hard lately.”

Having made such an impact in his handful of AFL matches, Rowell’s injury coincided with the Suns’ season also running out of momentum.

Gold Coast won just two matches without the youngster and despite an impressive 30 point boost to the overall percentage, finished 14th and once again having failed to make a bid for an inaugural finals’ appearance.

Ballard, who arrived at the club at the same time as head coach Stuart Dew in late 2017, has recently inked a four-year contract extension in a display of belief in the club’s progress.

The 21-year-old knows however 2021 looms as a season when the Suns have to start turning potential into results.

“We just don’t want to be competing every week, we want to be the team to beat,“ he said.

“We want to turn from the hunters to the hunted.”

AAP EJ/NZ

07-12-20 1240