On a hot day in Townsville, Darcy Macpherson led from the front and was a crucial part of a high-pressure, high-intensity Gold Coast team.

In a game where he laid four tackles and gathered 15 disposals, the third year SUN found himself named among the team’s best.

Tenacity and pressure are two things that Macpherson consistently brings to the table and plenty of teammates did likewise on Sunday.

“Four quarter effort (from the team), I thought from all three lines we really did our job from the start, so it was pleasing.” Macpherson told SUNS TV after the first JLT Community Series game.

“Yeah definitely, we’ve been practicing it (defensive pressure) all summer, that ripping in, and I think the boys showed it in full colours today.”

Heading into the 2018 season under senior coach Stuart Dew, Macpherson will be aiming to add to his career tally of 12 games.

Despite not kicking a goal on Sunday, the small forward spent time further up the ground and finished with four inside 50s and two goal assists.

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He’s acutely aware that scoreboard impact is not the only indicator for selection, but the pressure and work rate need to be there too.

“Just to stick to with the same focus I had with this game, that pressure, bring that pressure, the work rate.”

“And also play as a team, that family, that we’ve got going on at the moment, it’s been really strong, and the boys are just blossoming off it.”