By Michael Whiting

Gold Coast SUNS coach Guy McKenna said learning from the Sydney Swans was the perfect dress rehearsal for his team ahead of a crucial fortnight.

The SUNS were thumped by 72 points by the competition pacesetters and now face lowly Melbourne and GWS in the next two weeks in contests that will define their season.

Gold Coast SUNS had more disposals (398-383), matched the Swans in contested possessions (148-151) and was close in tackles (61-73) but were never in the contest against a clinical opponent.

"The boys would have learnt a lot from this week and we take that into the rest of the season, not just the next few 'winnable' games," McKenna said.

The boys will continue to learn and grow. I think our pressure has been good for four out of five weeks, but I think the boys would have understood here's a lesson if you want to sit on top of the ladder and play finals football, this is the level we need to get to.

"Can we manufacture that next week? Like most weeks, that's the goal."

McKenna said turnovers were the difference, particularly in the first-half when the Suns were competitive.

He said the Swans' pressure forced them to over-use the ball.

"I thought the boys' intent was there, but the margin was like the margin on the premiership ladder," he said.

"That's the learning curve for all of us. You back off one per cent, two per cent, and that's what happens."

Half-back Jarrod Harbrow ­ who had 25 disposals in an excellent 100th game ­ said the Swans' pressure was the best in the competition.

"They can sustain it for four quarters and we feel that out there," Harbrow said.

Their frontal pressure and their press-up, we feel that. You notice they're in your face a lot more.

"The more experience and the better we get, the more confident we get, the more composure we have with the ball to not fumble and cough the ball up so easy.

"We've got to get to that level where we handle the pressure, such as the Swans, a lot better. It was pretty unacceptable that third quarter (eight goals to two to Swans). They have been all year and tonight was no different. All us players have to take full responsibility for it."

David Swallow was substituted during the third quarter with a corked leg, but McKenna expected him to be available next week.

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL