Gold Coast SUNS coach Rodney Eade has remained resolute in his belief that the effort in the performance is more critical long term than the actual result.
 
With the former Western Bulldogs and Sydney Swans coach building a foundation for sustained success, Eade has repeatedly demanded a baseline level of effort to launch the education process from.
 
Despite a bitterly disappointing opening month of football, Eade revealed he had remained calm throughout the downpour of condemnation, waiting for the effort to reach a satisfactory standard to allow the SUNS to be competitive on any given day.
 
“I’ve been reasonably calm about it, probably the first week was the only week I gave them a bit of a clip,” Eade told reporters following Gold Coast’s 64-point win over the Brisbane Lions on Saturday night.
 
“Really for my mind, but even win, lose or draw tonight if you give that effort then you can start educating and teaching the way we want to play. And that’s (Brisbane game) the way we want to play.”
 
After the heartless loss to Greater Western Sydney in round four, the harsh glare of the football media transcended on the AFL’s 17th franchise. With the blowtorch scorching the inside of Metricon Stadium, a player driven accountability meeting may well have been the catalyst behind the SUNS’ on field revival.
 
“I’ve been really pleased with their mentality this week because they’re upbeat and we kept the up,” Eade said.
 
“They wanted to make a stand; they’re proud. I think they’re proud about being involved with the club; they’re certainly a tight bunch. But we just need to be able to hold each other account on it in terms of effort.”
 
Eade admitted the drought-breaking victory over the Lions was a relief, but his philosophy over building a stable foundation hadn’t changed at all. The victory reaffirming his belief that a rosy future beckons if his side can produce performances assembled by effort and will.
 
“Yeah a bit of relief, but it’s more about the bigger picture. I know what we need to do and I’ve said that for three or four weeks, even last week,” Eade said.
 
“You just know the way we go down it might be a bit rocky for awhile but if you teach them the right way and the calibre of the blokes we’ve got, there will certainly be some blue skies down the track.”