Rookie Darcy Macpherson was brought into Rodney Eade’s 22 to bring manic forward pressure and despite his team going down to Melbourne by 73 points, the 18-year-old didn’t disappoint.

On debut, Macpherson finished the game with 10 disposals but more impressively led his team in pressure points for the game with 31 total pressure acts including nine tackles.

Following the game, Macpherson revealed the experience was a huge jump in intensity from the pre-season NAB Challenge games he played in.

“It picks up again I think,” Macpherson told BLK RAW post-game.

“The 360 pressure coming from Melbourne was pretty elite and I could feel that all game. Their run, you just had to be switched on the whole game.

“I thought it was a big step up from the NAB1 and 2 games I played.”

The Northern Knights product also booted the opening goal of the game after being on the end of a centring kick from vice-captain Tom Lynch.

The 18-year-old calmly slotted the goal from 20 metres out with SUNS players coming from everywhere to mark the occasion.

“I was pretty fatigued because I ran pretty hard to get there and marked it,” Macpherson said.

“I was lucky I was pretty close or else I probably wouldn’t have made the distance. The legs were a bit wobbly but nah, all good.”



Playing alongside a player of Lynch’s calibre was a special experience for Macpherson, with the vice-captain booting another four goals to take his season tally to 28 in seven games.

“It was awesome. His leadership out there is just great,” Macpherson said.

“His on-field directive talk and that sort of stuff just helped me with my game as well.”

The SUNS face a tough month of football with four top-eight opponents awaiting them, starting with Greater Western Sydney away next Saturday.

With two of Gold Coast’s best runners in Alex Sexton and Matt Rosa set to miss the trip south with injuries sustained against the Demons, Macpherson said the SUNS would need to bring the consistent effort and pressure, elements of the game plan that has gone missing at times over recent weeks.

“We’re going to have to play a different game against them as well with ‘Secko’ and Rosa out of the side, so we’re just going to have to fight it out,” he said.

“Effort, pressure and bring that consistent competitive nature.”