After a tumultuous start to the year, both on and off field, the signs were encouraging before the bye. The Gold Coast SUNS era under Rodney Eade appeared to be on track, with an impressive dose of effort and endeavour making up for an absence in personnel.
 
The wins may not have started to come yet, but when you consider the opposition in the final three games before the halfway interval – Hawthorn in Tasmania, then home fixtures against Sydney and Fremantle – those performances may have produced premiership points against lesser opposition.
 
With experienced leaders in Gary Ablett, David Swallow, Nick Malceski and emerging leader in Jaeger O'Meara managing a handful of games between them, Michael Rischitelli has elevated his status as a mentor, fulfilling the role of captain in the absence of Ablett with aplomb.
 
The former Brisbane Lions midfielder is one of the most experienced players inside Metricon Stadium. His form and guidance this season has gone to a new level during adverse times, and Rischitelli is confident that despite still not winning, Gold Coast has made up ground in the last month.
 
“We knew we were in a big hole earlier in the year. We sort of clawed our way back slowly, obviously we’re not winning, but internally what we’ve been able to provide, especially the last month,” Rischitelli told reporters at Metricon Stadium on Friday.
 
“We’ve been really focused on the last month. With the big teams we’ve played against, the signs are good but obviously we want to win. We just need to keep fighting and hopefully this is the week that we win.
 
“From the last month all those things have stood up. Inexperienced guys have really stood up. (We’ve been) hard at the ball and followed the game plan. That’s all you can expect and all you want, especially for your members and the people watching from the outside.”
 
For the duration of the first-half of the season, the bye appeared on the horizon as a place of solace. An opportunity to get back injured players and a chance to reinvigorate the group after a difficult start to 2015.
 
After the performance against Fremantle, and the second-half effort against Sydney, momentum was created. The week’s break has provided an opportunity to get back players, and important players, but the time now is to build on the momentum that was created prior to the bye.