This off-season, the Gold Coast SUNS made wholesale personnel changes to its playing list, bringing in a total of 12 new faces over the exchange period.
 
The change among the playing group has been evident according to revered leader Michael Rischitelli, with the younger players on the list driving the group in terms of standards.

“We’ve made a bit of a change with the culture on the back of last year,” Rischitelli told SUNS TV.
 
“Results didn’t go our way and (we had) some player issues, so the start of the pre-season’s been really good.
 
“All the guys have bought into what we believe and it’s going to take us to the top, right from the youngsters.
 
“They went on their camp and come back and are really buying into what we really believe is going to take us to some success.”
 
Now 29, Rischitelli is entering his 13th pre-season at the top level but revealed his body is feeling good after playing 21 games in 2015.
 
“Body’s good, I had a good break,” he said.
 
“At this time of the year I’m feeling really good early on in the start of the pre-season, just easing into it.
 
“But now the loads have really picked up so we’ve got another week left and I think it’s going to be a big week next week. Then we’ll obviously go on our break and then come back ready for a big year.”
 
With his sights set on a successful 2016 campaign, the building blocks for the SUNS begin in the pre-season and the former Brisbane Lion believes the club is heading in the right direction.
 
“The goals would definitely be improving from where we were, and we want to strive for greatness and that starts on the back of our pre-season,” Rischitelli said.
 
“A lot of guys come back in good shape, new program, so the steps we’re taking are in the right direction and we’ll be ready.”