The Gold Coast SUNS are fired up and ready to turn up the heat this weekend as they return home to face Essendon, looking to respond after back-to-back losses to Melbourne and Sydney.
With a point to prove, the SUNS will be eager to deliver in front of their home crowd for the first time since Round 1.
Despite the results, there is no panic inside the four walls, only a clear focus on growth and response.
Defender and vice-captain Sam Collins said the group is confident in its ability to turn things around.
“We’re a bit disappointed with how we’ve lost, but we’ve got full confidence in our ability to identify the issues and fix them,” Collins said.
“As a backline group, we’d have liked to be better.
“We probably didn’t meet our usual standards over the last couple of weeks, especially when the pressure was on. But I believe we can correct our mistakes. We’ve got some clear and focused goals for this week.”
He said the emphasis now is on execution rather than emotion.
“We’re really focusing on ourselves and what we can do this week,” Collins said.
“We’ll dial in even further as the week goes on.”
There is also a significant boost for the SUNS, with Christian Petracca and Bailey Humphrey both in contention to return for Saturday’s clash, adding fresh strength and depth around the contest.
Midfielder Matt Rowell said their inclusions would provide further options and levers for the SUNS midfield to pull.
“Trac and Bailey are available this week, so that’s great news for us,” Rowell said.
“That’s more depth to the squad and they’re obviously two very good players, so we’ll welcome them in.”
Rowell added that the contested game is an area the side is determined to address.
“We’ve identified there’s just a bit of a gap at the moment between us and probably some of the best sides with our contest work, and we’re not shying away from that,” he said.
He said the response must come through action on game day.
“We haven’t been up to it,” Rowell said.
“We know we’re better than that, so we need to rise to the level and make sure we get that right this weekend.”
After three challenging weeks on the road, the SUNS are finally set to return home this Saturday, with a much-needed opportunity to reset, reconnect and play in front of their home crowd once again. This homecoming, however, carries extra significance.
The club continues its support of RizeUp Australia, the club’s major charity partner, which provides safe housing and practical support for families escaping domestic violence. Its mission is to offer hope, empowerment and a pathway to rebuild.
“It’s a great organisation and one the club is really proud to be behind,” Rowell said.
For this match, the SUNS will donate one dollar for every fan in attendance, ensuring every seat filled contributes directly to the cause.
Collins said the club is hoping the Gold Coast community turns out in force.
“If we can pack out the stadium, that’ll be good for the charity,” he said.
And with every supporter through the gate, the impact stretches beyond the boundary line, turning a homecoming into something far bigger than football.
