GC SUNS AFLW Head Coach Cameron Joyce has pushed the message to keep the QClash loss in perspective as the SUNS look to reload ahead of an upcoming crucial match against the Western Bulldogs on Tuesday night.
The SUNS were kept in check by the reigning premiers at Metricon Stadium in Thursday night’s QClash and Joyce said it was paramount the team bounced back quickly with just four days until its next match.
“I said to the players I’m a big believer that nothing’s as ever as bad as it seems and nothing’s ever as good as it seems,” Joyce said post-match.
“We’re sitting 3-2 and we certainly weren’t premiership favourites.
“We got beaten well tonight but we also don’t lose our talent and our want to play the game.
“Our contest and our tackle and our pressure and all that sort of stuff that had been evident, they probably just overwhelmed us a little bit with that tonight.”
The Lions looked slick all night and with an extra three years’ AFLW experience over their younger counterparts, flexed their muscles on the SUNS.
Joyce said it was important his team learnt from what could be improved from the match but didn’t let the loss carry any extra baggage into the remainder of the season.
“We understand tonight we were comprehensively outplayed,” Joyce said.
“We know that they’re a really good footy team so we certainly respect that but at the same time we’ve got a game in four days’ time against the Dogs and we’ve got to get some respect back.
“I think we really earned (respect) in the first five rounds but we lost a little bit tonight.
“I don’t think we’re going to put (the loss) in the bin, but we’ve got to get a couple of learnings that are the big rocks I suppose and be able to do something about them quickly.
“We’re fast-forwarding to the Bulldogs after that.”
The SUNS play the Western Bulldogs at 6:10pm on Tuesday night in a second Round 7 match for the club at Metricon Stadium.
