Over the opening weeks of the season, Gold Coast led the competition for tackles and impressed with their intensity around the contest. 

Unfortunately, on Saturday night they were unable to replicate that same level and suffered an 80-point defeat to West Coast.

With the SUNS keen to set and maintain high standards, midfielder Jack Bowes says that the players are understandably disappointed.

“Yeah obviously disappointing, firstly our contest and effort wasn’t there consistently enough throughout the whole night, which we’d been priding ourselves on in round 1, 2 and 3,” Bowes told SUNS TV after the game on Saturday night.

“Throughout our JLT, and in particular round 1 and 2, we were able to bring that pressure and tonight it just wasn’t there.”

Bowes, who had 12 disposals and seven marks, wants to see the team get back to playing with the same intensity that they showed in previous weeks.

They will have the opportunity to do so this Sunday when they head back to South East Queensland to take on the Brisbane Lions.

“A week’s a long time in footy, we’ll regroup and I’m sure we’ll bounce back next week.

“We’ll go through the tape, look at that and have a good honest discussion in our game review now, boys that didn’t put their hand up and perform today and put the effort in that’s required, will certainly be going out there next week to prove themselves right.”

“As I said a week’s a long time in footy, we’ve got to stick positive, so looking forward to getting back onto the Coast, regrouping and I’m sure we’ll push through this together, recover well and look forward to next week in the QClash.”