The Courier | REDAN’S Nick Sullivan will put almost four months on the sidelines behind him when he returns to senior football in the Lions’ qualifying final on Saturday.
Sullivan, who has not played since round three with a broken hand, has been picked to take to the field for the maroon and gold for their crucial Ballarat Football League qualifying final against North Ballarat City.
Matthew Cullinan
Matthew Cullinan
The 27-year-old will begin his finals campaign in search of a third premiership with as many clubs, having previously won Central Highlands Football League flags with Daylesford and Waubra.
It will be just his fourth senior match for Redan, having broken his hand in the third game of the season against Darley.
Redan's Nick Sullivan returns just in time for finals series
He has been dominant in the last two reserves game, named as the Lions’ best with five goals against Melton South and second-best on ground against Darley last week. Coach Eammon Gill said Sullivan had truly earned his spot in the side, with the tough onballer to fill the vacancy left by Dean Mathews, who will likely miss the rest of the year.
“Nick’s shown some really good form coming through the twos, he’s been keeping very fit,” he said.
The Lions have also recalled ruckman Matthew Cullinan, who had been the number one big man all year.
Cullinan, who had played mainly reserves this year, has developed to become Redan’s first-choice ruckman.
He missed his first match of the season last week with an ankle injury but has been called back into the side.
He will take the spot of Jacob Short in the side, as Redan and North City meet in the qualifying final for the third consecutive year.