Gold Coast interim coach Steven King insists his side’s intensity during an emotional defeat of St Kilda can be maintained and that “anything is possible” with a maiden finals berth still on the table.
The Suns beat the Saints by 26 points on Saturday to cap a week that started with the sacking of head coach Stuart Dew.
Dew was axed with a season to run on his contract by a board that believes there is a gap between where the side sits on the ladder and where they should be.
But after their comprehensive win the Suns improved to 8-9, just one win and percentage outside the top eight.
Two more wins in the final six rounds would equal last year’s club-best campaign while five more would likely lock in a maiden finals appearance.
Victory came after back-to-back thumpings against top two sides Collingwood and Port Adelaide, but King said Saturday’s performance wasn’t a one-out.
“In terms of a sugar hit, we’ve played a couple of really handy teams the last two weeks,” King said.
“One (Collingwood) wasn’t great but I thought last week against Port … there was enough in that game to suggest these boys can play against anyone when we’re on the right path.”
Jack Lukosius kicked four goals and unlikely pair Rory Atkins (32 disposals, two goals) and Sam Flanders (33 disposals, five clearances) starred for the Suns.
The off-contract Flanders was drafted with star duo Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson and King said he had shown there was a place for him in this side too.
“Sometimes a player just needs that breakout game to feel like they belong,” King, a Geelong premiership ruckman, said.
“I think Sammy sometimes can, not try too hard but (he was) just chasing that breakout game and I think he’s just taken a deep breath, realised any role he plays for us as a team is valued and he gets the rewards.
“He’s a very valuable young member of our team and we’re certainly a better team when he’s in it.”
King, who also won a premiership during 10 years as an assistant at Western Bulldogs, said he enjoyed his first experience “in the big chair”.
“Today was important to start that journey together; I think anything is possible,” he said of their season.
There’s an enormous amount of talent here and I was just rapt to see them enjoy the game today and play for one another.
“Memories in this game aren’t always positive there’s some stuff that punches you in the face sometimes but that can make the group tighter as well.”
© AAP 2023
