Gold Coast vice-captain Dion Prestia lamented his team’s inability to “take the game on" following the side's 39-point loss to Carlton on Saturday.

The SUNS were never in the game at Etihad Stadium and looked flat in the first half, trailing the Blues by an insurmountable 46 points at the main break. It wasn’t until the final quarter that Gold Coast was able to string consecutive goals together for the first time when the team took the game to their opponents.

“We talked about it all week, and especially last week, being bold and taking the game on,” Prestia said.

“We probably only waited until the last quarter before we started doing it.”

“They came out pretty hard in the first quarter, which we expected, but yeah it’s a bit disappointing to have a loss that probably knocks us a bit out of finals contention.”

Gold Coast ranks 18th in the AFL for disposal efficiency and the over-use of the ball in the first half proved costly on the scoreboard.

“We probably over-possessed a fair bit, I think we had more handballs and kicks at quarter time so that doesn’t help when we’ve got big forwards up there that we should be getting it in one-on-one,” Prestia said.

“They were hitting their targets and we weren’t so that’s probably the difference in the end.”

GC SUNS coach Guy McKenna echoed Prestia’s sentiments in his post-match press conference.

“Our boys came to play, there's no doubt about that. But our execution killed us,” McKenna told reporters.

"Certainly our kicking efficiency was below 60 (per cent) in the first half and – surprise, surprise – in the second half it's up close to 70 per cent.”

While the SUNS’ final aspirations took a dent after Saturday’s loss, September action is still a possibility and a win over Port Adelaide at Metricon Stadium next Saturday is essential.

Prestia told SUNS TV the team would be fired up to take on the Power at their home ground, where the SUNS hold a 7-2 win-loss record for the season.

“The boys know how to prepare for a game, especially after last week we cracked down on it pretty hard and yeah back at home, so it’s always good,” he said.

“We play pretty well at home and Port Adelaide haven’t been going great.

“It’s going to be a good opportunity to verse another good top-eight team and just really see where we’re at.”