Gold Coast coach Rodney Eade praised his side’s ability to battle through the fatigue barrier in the final quarter to almost produce the upset of the season against the West Coast Eagles at Metricon Stadium on Saturday night.
 
In the first draw in the SUNS' history, Gold Coast overcame seemingly unsurmountable odds to not merely steal two premiership points, rather almost pull off one of the more unlikely victories in recent memory.
 
The previous three weeks – against the Western Bulldogs, Greater Western Sydney and Adelaide – have all followed a similar script. Gold Coast has remained in the contest for the first three quarters before being outworked in the final term by fast finishing sides.
 
At Adelaide Oval last weekend, the SUNS were swept aside in the last 30 minutes after being in the game at the last break. Eade revealed in his post-mortem that he was particularly critical of the lapse in effort when the going got tough, but against the Eagles he was thrilled with his side’s ability to tough it out.
 
“I’ve been really positive about their effort even since the Hawthorn game probably, except the Carlton game. Even the last three games where we’ve run out of legs,” Eade said following the SUNS' draw with West Coast on Saturday night.
 
“Last week I was probably a bit more pointed, even though we fatigued, we’ve got to hang tough, we’ve got to hang in there, you’ve got to find a bit. You can’t just use that consistently.
 
“I think tonight, there was a few guys carrying injuries at the end of the game but they hung in there and that was the pleasing thing to be able to stick some tackles and to be able to find a little bit to run and to find a little bit to support their mates.
 
“I think that will reinforce the belief and that learning curve of young players that you’ve just got to tough it out.”
 
Gold Coast’s fitness and conditioning program has been heavily scrutinised this season, with the club addressing this area of concern by appointing highly regarded Western Bulldogs fitness boss Justin Cordy.
 
Fitness is one thing but being able to will yourself to work when the game is on the line is another thing altogether. And Eade believes the SUNS took a step forward in mentally being able to handle the rigours of the game on Saturday night.
 
“I thought we did look fatigued at times, but I thought guys were able to dig deep and that’s what you’ve got to do at AFL footy,” Eade said.
 
“I think there’s a level of fatigue and if your mind gives way your actually play tired and I think we’re starting to overcome that mentally.”