Western Bulldogs premiership star Lachie Hunter will remain at the club’s Gold Coast hub as he takes a break from playing to work through some personal issues stemming from his turbulent 2020.
Hunter completed Wednesday’s main training session at Surfers Paradise Football Club and is set to remain involved with the Bulldogs despite stepping out of the team for Thursday night’s match against Gold Coast.
The Bulldogs will blood their fifth debutant in eight games with Callum Porter selected while Billy Gowers also returns at the expense of Hunter and Bailey Dale (ankle).
“Western Bulldogs midfielder Lachie Hunter is currently unavailable for selection due to personal reasons,” the Dogs said in a statement.
“The club will continue to strongly support Lachie as he works through some personal challenges, with his health and well-being to be the priority focus.”
If Hunter jetted home to Melbourne it would be difficult for him to return until late in the home-and-away season due to quarantine regulations.
Upon returning to Queensland Hunter would have to serve another 14 days in a transition hub before linking back up with the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs are likely to vacate the Mercure Resort for RACV Royal Pines next week.
Hunter relinquished the vice-captaincy in April after crashing into four parked cars while under the influence of alcohol.
He was also fined by police for breaching the COVID-19 lockdown laws.
Hunter was on his way to teammate Billy Gowers’ house in South Yarra when he crashed, and after leaving his contact details he sought a lift with teenager Bailey Smith, who was also fined for breaching lockdown.
Smith was staying at his girlfriend’s place at the time and in a freak coincidence some of the damaged cars belonged to her parents.
Hunter was left with the expensive repair bill for the cars and was also fined $5000 by the club.
Hunter, 25, has raised $5500 for the Alfred Hospital’s road accident trauma program through a Dry July fundraiser this month.
The Bulldogs have since shielded Hunter from the media.
He has recorded two videos for the club website instead of submitting to an interview and last week spoke passionately about his desire to return to the leadership group.
“It hurt a lot (losing the vice-captaincy), and it still does. Even running out on the weekend I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think about it once or twice,” Hunter said.
“I’d love to get back there. That can only come over time and it’s going to take a fair bit of time to build back that trust from the coaches, the players, the board (and) the fans.
“Whether that’s next year, whether that’s in a few years … it might not ever come, and that’s fine as well. But I’ll be doing everything I can to get there.”
The Bulldogs have never faced the Suns at Metricon Stadium under coach Luke Beveridge.
Gold Coast named an unchanged side for its first ever game in primetime.