Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew has lamented a missed opportunity but is not giving up on the Suns’ push for a maiden finals appearance.
In a horror second quarter at the MCG on Sunday, Gold Coast were blown away by Carlton as they lost the term by 54 points in conceding 9.3 to 0.3.
The Suns were mostly competitive for the remainder of the match but the Blues’ resurgent midfield ran riot in that 30-minute period to put the result beyond 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 said.
“And we need to make sure we’re one of those teams.
“If we are to lose, we’d like to lose with a little bit more fight than what we did today.
“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 said while many observers looked at the Suns in the context of the club’s entire history in regard to their failure to yet make the finals, he noted his current outfit was vastly different to those who’d gone before.
“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 said.
“We certainly feel in a different space.
“We’ve put more demand on our group and they’ve accepted it and that’s why they’d be disappointed.”
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 fair to them, they’ve carried a big load and been so impressive so I don’t think I’ll have to poke the bear too much,” he said.
“I reckon they’ll 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.”
