"If you're looking at Utopia, then having [Jaegar O'Meara] and David Swallow back in the side next year, it just changes the team," he said. "If any side loses two of their best four or five players, it's going to be hard."

O'Meara returned for the Suns in the NEAFL yesterday, playing half a game – his first for 14 months and first at senior level for nearly two years – and his presence sent a ripple through the club.

Eade did his best to downplay expectations, saying O'Meara would probably be held back for up to three weeks before playing seniors.

"He's still got a fair way to go, to be honest. I think he's as equipped as anyone to cope with that, [but] I don't think we as a club should put those expectations on him.

"It's more about him than us. I'm just pleased for him, because he's such a good lad … The amount of work he's put in and the hard times he's had, I think it's just good for him just to get out and play.

"I spoke to him during the week saying don't worry about the number of possessions, just enjoy being out on the field again, but as is his wont, he found the footy a fair bit. We'll just take it steady with him."

Swallow has battled an achilles injury as well as bone bruising in his knee, and Eade said there was little point playing him again this season. "We can't make the finals, there's nothing to be gained by taking that risk.

"At the end of the year, were hoping he'll be able to play two or three NEAFL games, to [give] him confidence, like Jaegar, in playing again. He had a great report from the surgeon a two or three weeks ago, he's stepping his training up."

Eade said his expectations for the end of the year was to influence the shape of the final eight.

"We've been through a tough year last year and a tough period this year with everybody out, but the guys have hung in exceptionally well. The mood around the place has never wavered."

Alan Richardson was quick to praise the Suns. "I think it's really important we acknowledge how good they were as a team … They're starting to get some real talent back into their team and they taught us a bit of a lesson today.

"Their midfield just blew our midfield apart, really. I thought David Armitage did a pretty good job on Ablett, but other than that we just got beaten to the ball. Our work around the clearances [was] reasonable, [but] the outside stuff, we got smashed."

He said it was disappointing that his team had been unable to back up its impressive win against Geelong last week. "What last week does, and rightfully so, is raises expectations – internally, externally – and so it should.

"Your expectation rises, but our job is to provide clarity for what it is we do – why it is we achieved that performance and we didn't get that done [today]. There's no doubt that's disappointing."

He said it was too soon to rule out young forward Paddy McCartin, who suffered his third concussion for the year. "It's a bit early really. It'll be up to the doctors and the medicos. They'll do everything necessary to make sure he's right to play or not."