By Michael Whiting

Despite a difficult first season, Gold Coast defender Campbell Brown says the GC SUNS potentially have more talent than the Hawthorn team with which he won a premiership in 2008.

Brown was part of a Hawks team that built for four seasons before winning the flag, and says he sees similarities with the Hawks of 2005 when Alastair Clarkson took over the coaching.

The 27-year-old was one of eight senior players recruited by the GC SUNS for their first season to mix with a stack of teenage draft picks and zone selections.

"There's no doubt we've got as much talent in this group as we did back then, if not more," Brown said after the 70-point loss to the Sydney Swans on Saturday night.

"I think the challenge is fantastic, and trying to build a group of players up to win a premiership is great," he said.

"The exciting journey doesn't happen overnight, it took four years at Hawthorn.

"I'd say in terms of where they're at, this group is much further ahead.

"We have a lot more first-round draft picks and a lot more talent sitting in the reserves as well that hasn't quite come up yet, and that's what makes it exciting for me because I know what's ahead."

Brown said building a team from the bottom was one of the huge lures that brought him to the GC SUNS.

He said the success would not happen overnight and that he took great pride in seeing the small steps accomplished.

"The major difference at Hawthorn is there was a lot more senior guys, when I say senior guys I mean 50-70 games, and it makes a huge difference," he said.

"We're expecting some of these guys in their fifth game of footy to be getting 20 touches and kicking goals and doing those things, which I don't think is realistic.

"While we have an expectation of them as a group to perform each week, you have to understand that with that comes a little inconsistency."

Brown said while results like Saturday night's were disappointing, the GC SUNS had to look at the bigger picture.

The ultra competitive defender said he had his moments of frustration, but it was more to do with ball movement and execution than effort.

He said working with the younger defenders, including impressive third-gamer Joel Wilkinson, was something he relished.

Brown said there was still plenty to gain from the season despite the GC SUNS now sitting in the wooden spoon position and staring down the barrel of playing without injured skipper Gary Ablett.

"Although we can't make finals we can certainly improve and try and get another couple of wins," he said.

"While we haven't looked at wins and losses all year, I'd be disappointed if we stayed on two wins, so there's still something there to strive for."

Brown hobbled off in the third quarter with a sore right shoulder after a collision with Karmichael Hunt and Swan Jarred Moore, but said it was just a "stinger" and was no problem when he returned later in the match.