Gold Coast might be missing its first-choice midfield, but young utility Alex Sexton says its potent triple tower forward line is giving it all the confidence it needs.
Tom Lynch, Peter Wright and Sam Day were unstoppable in Saturday's 24-point win over Fremantle, kicking 11 goals between them, and Sexton says there's more to come.
The 23-year-old was the best player afield with 26 disposals, eight tackles, seven clearances and a club record 14 inside 50s, but he was quick to deflect praise elsewhere.
In his first game in the centre square, Sexton said his instructions were simple – get it long to the big blokes.
"I just get it (the ball) straight in," he said.
"That was part of the game-plan, we didn't want to muck around with the football, we wanted to get it in long to the talls.
"Sam's been playing forward and back, so for him to go back to his natural habitat, for them to jell and dominate that forward line (was great).
"They're starting to jell as a (forward) six and it gives us great confidence getting the ball in, that's for sure."
And why wouldn't it? Lynch stands 199cm and is now a star of the competition, Wright is just a second-year player but an imposing 203cm, while Day is a powerhouse 197cm.
Sexton said the SUNS would have to improve to match it with Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday, but believed the young SUNS were ready.
With Gold Coast missing midfield stars Gary Ablett, Dion Prestia, Michael Rischitelli, David Swallow, Jaeger O'Meara and Aaron Hall, Sexton said the next group of leaders was forced to stand up.
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"(Beating Fremantle) gives us great confidence going into the end of the season," he said.
"Those guys aren't coming back now that they've had their surgeries.
"We just have to step up every week now and really grow.
"We've preached about backing up and not just having one win and going away from that."
