The Gold Coast SUNS will take heart and plenty of learnings from Sunday’s defeat against the Adelaide Crows at Unley Oval according to Head Coach Cameron Joyce.
The SUNS were valiant in defeat, eventually falling 32 points short of one of the competition’s hottest sides, but more than held their own for large portions of the contest.
Led by typically-bullish contested performances from the likes of Charlie Rowbottom, Claudia Whitfort and Lucy Single, the SUNS brought the heat to Unley Oval.
They finished on the right side of the ledger in key areas including inside 50s and contested possessions but couldn’t make the most of opportunities inside its forward half.
“We did a fair bit right in terms of our contest, making it difficult for them and getting enough balls Inside 50, but we just weren’t able to capitalise and score,” Joyce said.
“They had 90 tackles so we obviously made them work a bit. Being able to execute under their pressure ended up probably being the difference.
“If you had have told us we’d have those numbers, I dare say we’d be on the winning side more often than not.”
The Crows built the majority of its game-winning lead during a brief patch in the first quarter with the SUNS then limiting the hosts to just two goals after the main break.
“We want to challenge the best. While it’s a four/five goal margin, I never felt like it blew out at any stage,” Joyce continued.
“I thought we actually defended pretty well in the first quarter… three scores from 10 entries, unfortunately it was three goals.
“[In the second half] I felt like we were able to hold them up and make it difficult which will hold us in good stead.”
The SUNS next hit the road once again to tackle the Tigers at Ikon Park on Sunday afternoon before returning to Heritage Bank Stadium for a Round 7 QClash on Saturday, October 14.
