After recording their largest victory outside of Queensland last week over West Coast in Perth, the Gold Coast SUNS are eager to continue their run of good form, when they take on the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba in QClash 24 on Saturday evening.
The SUNS are coming off the back of strong performances over the last five weeks and will look to take it to another premiership contender, having pushed the Demons to within a goal two weeks ago.
SUNS’ Senior coach, Stuart Dew said the team are clearly building momentum.
“The last four or five weeks have been good preparation and we look forward to getting up to the Gabba and testing ourselves,” Dew said.
“Brisbane have been a Top-4 premiership threat for a number of years now, and I’d like to see where we sit.
“We’ve got a lot of confidence out of our last four or five weeks from how we’ve played and been able to shift momentum and withstand it, and that’ll get tested.
“There’ll be times in the game where it won’t be going our way, but how we hold up and push back, that’s the challenge against these good teams”.
Having recorded three wins in the past four weeks, the SUNS are going into the QClash as underdogs, a title Stuart Dew feels won’t change the mentality of the playing group.
“Our expectations have been consistent all year. We think we can win every game we go to,” Dew said.
“The level of challenge is just a little bit higher when we play these top teams.
“If we can play our brand of footy for longer, we can win the game of footy.
“There’ll be 23 Brisbane players trying to negate that, but we match up reasonably well. We’ve got similar styles.
“Statistically, we’re around the same mark in a lot of ways. We probably know their game, and they know ours.
“But it’s one thing knowing, and another thing executing. We’ve just got to take our chances.
“10 rounds in, we’re looking forward to this one. It’s an important time of the year. The ladder is so even, but over the next month, it’ll start to stretch out”.
The match is tipped to be a massive midfield battle, with both teams liking to play the ball deep.
Dew said it’ll be a real arm wrestle, but limiting the supply will be the game plan heading into QClash 24.
“Games are won or lost in the midfield, and I feel our guys are starting to share the load through there and play their role, and we’ll be looking for them to lead the way again.
“You’ve got to take your window when you get it, but to get that window, you’ve got to front up and keep showing up physically.
“The spectator in me will enjoy the midfield battle as long as we come out on top.
“It’s always an important game for our club, as it is for them.
“It’s a great atmosphere at these games and build-up wise, our players are energised by that and looking forward to it”.
