Gold Coast Suns intent on showing they are no longer ‘crap' in Saturday's battle with Brisbane
While the Suns have won 11 of their 17 matches to remain on track to play finals football for the first time in the club's history, an embarrassing 61-point loss to Adelaide last Sunday has raised doubts about their ability to finish the season in the top eight.
Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick believes the ideal way to respond is with a win over the second-placed Lions this weekend at People First Stadium.
'We're still in the race for something that we have never achieved, so we're really looking forward to that challenge,' Hardwick said on Thursday.
'As a coaching group and as a playing group, we've got a big step this week. We've got to take care of this step, then we'll sit there and take the next one this week.
'There's no greater test than the mob we're playing this week. The way they play the game is a great style of footy – combative, high pressure, high contest.
'What's really improved over the last six weeks is their handball game. Those Ashcroft boys (Will and Levi), (Jaspa) Fletcher and all those sorts of players have certainly helped with that, Lachie Neale's always been a star at it. The challenge is firmly set for our midfielders to respond.
'We get to test how far we've come in six days. The great thing about the very best sides is you know exactly how they play.
'Stopping them is the next part of the equation and we're looking forward to that challenge.'
Despite having only taken charge of the Suns last year, Hardwick is well aware of how the Gold Coast has been portrayed since joining the AFL competition in 2011.
'Everyone, for a long period of time, has told us how crap we are, (that) we're no good, (that we) don't deserve to be here,' the former Richmond three-time premiership-winning coach said.
'You know what? We're about changing that narrative. It's not the same old Suns, it's the brand new Suns.'
Hardwick said the top-eight was now 'probably 90 per cent a race in nine', with the ninth-placed Western Bulldogs trailing the Suns – who have played one game less – by four points.
'We've got a game in hand which is the challenging thing with the ladder and the swings and roundabouts that we have … (but) we've just got to keep ticking off as many wins as we can to make sure that we aim for that first finals campaign,' he said.
Hardwick also addressed speculation that Carlton forward Charlie Curnow wanted to join the Suns next season,
'We can understand that people hopefully want to come here and want to join in on this journey. We're looking to bring the very best players to our footy club,' he said.
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