Although the Gold Coast SUNS were on the wrong end of most of the key indicators in their two-point loss to Melbourne on Sunday, coach Rodney Eade was looking at the positives in his post-mortem after the game.

In 2015, the SUNS unearthed Aaron Hall and Jesse Lonergan as genuine AFL midfielders and a heavy injury toll again in 2016 has allowed Gold Coast to create opportunity for its younger talent.

Queenslander Alex Sexton was thrown in the deep-end in last week’s win over Fremantle, given his first taste of action in the engine room. The versatile 22-year-old responded with a career-high 26 disposals and a club-record 14 inside 50s, all whilst running with the dangerous Stephen Hill.

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Against the Demons, Sexton was tasked with Melbourne skipper Nathan Jones, keeping the prolific midfielder to 23 touches whilst gathering 18 of his own.

“Having your first six midfielders out, in any crisis it creates opportunity,” Eade said.

“We’ve thrown Alex Sexton in there, who we’ve never thought of playing in the middle before. He’s had two good games.

“He forced Jones out of the middle, did a good job on him. Did well on Stephen Hill last week.”

Touk Miller, in just his second year of AFL football, is another player who’s relished in the increased responsibility.

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The Calder Cannons product has averaged 25 disposals across his last four outings, including his Marcus Ashcroft medal winning performance against the Brisbane Lions in round 16.

“Touk Miller’s getting more game in there, we see him as a bona fide midfielder so that’s good and we gave some other guys some chances in there today,” Eade said.

“So I think from that aspect, because in past (Max) Gawn has given them dominance and I think Tommy (Nicholls) did a pretty good job today of competing with him and I thought we were pretty good around the ball.”