Richmond all but crushed the GWS Giants spirit during Coach Kevin Sheedy’s last match in Sydney last weekend, the Tigers running out 121 point winners and while conceding it would have been a tough result for the fellow expansion Club to take, Gold Coast SUNS Coach Guy McKenna expects a much more determined Giants outfit to run out onto Metricon Stadium this Sunday.

“I don’t think they would have been happy with their performance against Richmond,” McKenna said.

“It’s the last game of the season and they have a few injuries and key personnel but the players will be playing for Kevin so it’s going to be on for the young and old.”

Despite the hosts considered strong favourites to win the match, McKenna isn’t willing to accept the favourites tag saying Sheedy has a long history of bringing the best out of his players and lifting undermanned, inexperienced sides to great heights.

In 2007, after presiding over Essendon as senior coach for 27 years, Sheedy’s out-of-finals-contention Bombers ran out for his farewell match against West Coast at Patersons Stadium. 

Although the Bombers lost by eight points, they pushed the reigning Premiers all the way to the final siren in a spirited performance at Subiaco. 

But the SUNS have just as much riding on the Round 23 clash as McKenna reminded reporters at Metricon Stadium this morning, as his chargers look to generate momentum heading into a demanding summer training camp.

“It is important for our boys as they found our last year; we went into the pre-season all happy and with a bit of belief after finishing the year off strong,” he said.

“We understand we still have more maturation in our group and we understand that but I am really excited to finish this year off strong and possibly go into next year with eight wins.”

With Jeremy Cameron needing a bag against the Gold Coasters to capture the 2013 Coleman Medal, McKenna said he would be backing Rory Thompson in against the Giant’s spearhead. 

“We’ll be giving the job to Rory Thompson.”