Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew has lamented a missed alternative however is just not giving up on the Suns’ push for a maiden finals look.
In a horror second quarter on the MCG on Sunday, Gold Coast had been blown away by Carlton as they misplaced the time period by 54 factors in conceding 9.3 to 0.3.
The Suns had been principally aggressive for the rest of the match however the Blues’ resurgent midfield ran riot in that 30-minute interval to place the outcome past doubt.
“We’ll lick our wounds, but I think as the season shows it’s about who bounces back from – whether it’s these type of performances or these type of quarters – they are the ones that continue to move forward,” Dew stated.
“And we need to make sure we’re one of those teams.
“If we’re to lose, we might wish to lose with a bit of bit extra battle than what we did immediately.
“But we’ll keep it level as we did when we’ve had some good performances. I think that’s been a strength of ours.”
Dew stated whereas many observers regarded on the Suns within the context of the membership’s whole historical past in regard to their failure to but make the finals, he famous his present outfit was vastly totally different to those that’d gone earlier than.
“When they talk about this group, everyone lumps the 10 or 11 years together, but we’ve probably only got two guys left from that (early) period,” he stated.
“We certainly feel in a different space.
“We’ve put extra demand on our group and so they’ve accepted it and that is why they’d be disillusioned.”
Gold Coast (6-7) enter a season-defining fortnight back at Heritage Bank Stadium sitting 11th on the ladder ahead of games against Hawthorn and premiership favourites Collingwood.
Co-captain and star midfielder Touk Miller (knee) is still about a month away from returning even though he is ahead of his recovery schedule.
Highly-touted Suns Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson were given a lesson by a hungry Blues on-ball brigade led by Brownlow medallist Patrick Cripps and Sam Walsh.
Dew said his two young midfielders had played well in Miller’s absence but expected them to respond fiercely from a poor outing.
“Knowing that midfield group, and to be honest to them, they’ve carried an enormous load and been so spectacular so I do not suppose I’ll must poke the bear an excessive amount of,” he stated.
“I reckon they will have some steely eyes this week.
“They’re a bunch of competitors and I think they’ll go and have a look at it, get together individually and collectively and do something about it next game.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
