GC SUNS Leadership group member Sean Lemmens says it’s simply a matter of playing their brand of football for longer that will see the SUNS reap the rewards on field.

The SUNS controlled large portions of Friday’s Gather Round clash against Fremantle – Lemmens’s first of 2023 since returning from a calf injury – before letting the Dockers back into the contest in the second half.

The contest played out similarly to earlier meetings against St Kilda and Essendon where the SUNS weren’t able to keep the game on their terms for long enough, but the Round 3 win over Geelong shows the squad know what it needs to do. 

“We didn’t get the result we wanted on the weekend but from a connection and game plan perspective I don’t think we’ve been better,” Lemmens said.

“We have a solid game plan that stacks up as we know. It just shows that when we go away from that game plan and give a good team like that a sniff, they’re going to make you pay.

“It’s nothing major. We’ve put a lot of work into our game plan, it’s just a matter of doing it for longer.”

The SUNS head into Sunday’s ANZAC Round clash against North Melbourne at Heritage Bank Stadium confident it can turn around a slow start to 2023.

“We’re only five games in, there’s a long way to go. We’ve been really good on that as a club; lowering our eyes and concentrating on the next challenge ahead,” Lemmens continued.

Lemmens was among a cohort of players the SUNS have welcomed back from the injury list in recent weeks alongside Brandon Ellis, Bailey Humphrey and Lachie Weller.

Lemmens spent a significant amount of rehabilitation time with the sidelined Connor Budarick who has made a strong impression as he strives for a return from an ACL injury.

“I did a lot of work with Connor and to be able to train alongside him was something I loved. I can’t wait for him to be back out there, he’s such a valuable member of our team,” Lemmens continued.

“He’s going really well. You can see on the track he’s buzzing around.”

The SUNS return to Heritage Bank Stadium this Sunday afternoon in an ANZAC Round clash against North Melbourne. First bounce 4.40pm following the SUNS VFL curtain raiser at 12.35pm. Tickets are available through Ticketek.