If the Gold Coast SUNS are going to take the next step this season and qualify for a maiden finals series, its second tier of players will be crucial in the side’s fortunes according to Rodney Eade.
 
The former Western Bulldogs and Sydney Swans mentor joined the SUNS in mid-November following a stint at Collingwood as the Magpies' Director of Football.
 
After his coaching days appeared almost certainly behind him, Eade leapt from administration to become the Gold Coast’s second senior coach after realising that not only was he still capable of steering the ship once again, but the fire in his belly still burned brightly.
 
At the halfway mark of last season, the SUNS looked destined for a date in September. However, following a disappointing finish to the season due to an array of factors, a finals berth went begging. Now, Eade has identified the group of players who are yet to secure a regular game at Carrara as the keys behind the club’s success in 2015.
 
“I think there is talent and that’s a dangerous word, but I’d like to think we can improve the next tier of players,” Eade told 3AW Sports Today.
 
“We know [David] Swallow’s going to be (a good player) if he’s not already a good player. [Jaeger] O’Meara, [Dion] Prestia, those who form the nucleus of the midfield.
 
“It’s the next group of players who have had intermittent games or haven’t played yet, they're the ones that really I’m looking at to take the next step.
 
“(Those) who haven’t probably cemented a permanent spot, but I think who’ve got some talent but we’ve really got to get them up so we’ve got bona fide 30 (to) 32 players who can play league footy.”
 
Eade identified Luke Russell, Aaron Hall, Matt Shaw, Jesse Lonergan and Tom Nicholls as players who have demonstrated an ability to perform at the highest level, but are yet to cement a regular position in the SUNS' 22.