Last week’s historic win over Fremantle in Perth is already a distant memory for the Gold Coast SUNS.
Whilst the victory was huge for the confidence of the playing group in terms of knowing they can match it with the best in the competition, the focus quickly shifted to the next game on the calendar, Carlton at Metricon Stadium this Saturday night.
“To be able to walk off the ground knowing that we’ve just beaten Freo in Perth is massive for our confidence,” vice-captain Steven May told SUNS TV.
“Obviously we have to get back on the horse and get ready for Carlton at home because that win means nothing if we can’t back it up at home.
“Definitely good for our confidence but learning curve as well to see how we respond is going to be a big challenge.”
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Although the Blues aren’t renowned for their firepower, Andrejs Everitt (31 goals from 22 games in 2015) and Levi Casboult (24 goals from 16 games) will still need to be contained by the SUNS’ back six.
Each had a four-goal haul to their name last season and the Gold Coast defenders aren’t taking them lightly with May saying their preparations are intense as if they were playing reigning premier Hawthorn.
“Carlton, they took it up to Sydney in the first half in particular,” he said.
“They’ve got big Casboult and Everitt who’s tricky and depending on who they bring in, we’re going to have our work cut out for us.
“I hope the mids can keep up their good work and forward pressure up there so we don’t have as many inside 50s but our back six is going to prepare like anyone.
“Like we’re playing Hawthorn, so that’s the mentality we need to be able to win home and away.”
The SUNS back six has been as settled as it’s ever been and the emergence of the small defenders has impressed their vocal leader.
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“It’s been great,” May said.
“We played pretty much a whole NAB Cup together and the first two games and last year we’d have two or three changes a week to the back six so that makes it hard to build that trust knowing each week you know who you’re going to go out there with.
“Rory and I playing together has been great, but the development of those small backs has been terrific. Their ability to join in on offense has really helped us defenders because we’re attacking more than defending so it’s been great.
“If everyone can stay injury free we can really gel together.”
