Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna says his young defenders have been studying for eight weeks but now face an examination against Hawthorn this Sunday.
Teenagers Jesse Lonergan and Henry Schade have become the latest Gold Coast players to commit their future to the rising AFL club.
Gold Coast ruckman Zac Smith will miss the rest of the AFL season with a knee injury.
Gold Coast ruckman Zac Smith has become the 16th player over the summer or this AFL season to be sidelined with a serious knee injury.
Brandon MateraPosition:
32Goals this season:
6
Campbell BrownPosition:
30Goals this season:
6
Charlie DixonPosition:
23Goals this season:
11
Daniel GorringePosition:
15
Danny StanleyPosition:
25Goals this season:
2
David SwallowPosition:
24Goals this season:
0
Dion PrestiaPosition:
10Goals this season:
2
Gary AblettPosition:
9Goals this season:
8
Greg BroughtonPosition:
36Goals this season:
1
Harley BennellPosition:
11Goals this season:
7
Jack HutchinsPosition:
34Goals this season:
1
Jacob GillbeePosition:
13
Jared BrennanPosition:
3Goals this season:
2
Jarrod HarbrowPosition:
5Goals this season:
4
Jeremy TaylorPosition:
21
Joel WilkinsonPosition:
38Goals this season:
0
Karmichael HuntPosition:
7Goals this season:
1
Liam PatrickPosition:
43
Luke RussellPosition:
8Goals this season:
3
Matt ShawPosition:
26Goals this season:
4
Matthew WarnockPosition:
14Goals this season:
0
Maverick WellerPosition:
4
Michael RischitelliPosition:
35Goals this season:
1
Nathan BockPosition:
44
Rory ThompsonPosition:
16Goals this season:
3
Sam DayPosition:
12Goals this season:
5
Seb TapePosition:
48
Steven MayPosition:
17Goals this season:
7
Tom MurphyPosition:
29Goals this season:
0
Trent McKenziePosition:
18Goals this season:
1
Zac SmithPosition:
2Goals this season:
8
| Rank | Team | Won | Lost | Points |
| 1 | Geelong Cats | 8 | 1 | 32 |
| 2 | Essendon | 7 | 2 | 28 |
| 3 | Hawthorn | 7 | 1 | 28 |
| 4 | Sydney Swans | 6 | 2 | 26 |
| 5 | Fremantle | 5 | 2 | 22 |
| 6 | West Coast Eagles | 5 | 4 | 20 |
| 7 | Carlton | 5 | 4 | 20 |
| 8 | Port Adelaide | 5 | 4 | 20 |
| 9 | Richmond | 5 | 4 | 20 |
| 10 | Collingwood | 5 | 4 | 20 |
