For 13 weeks, the Gold Coast SUNS have been waiting for the opportunity to avenge their embarrassing round seven loss to the GWS Giants.
While they have faced far bigger challenges and even savoured the spoils of victory during that time, for Captain Gary Ablett Saturday May 12 at Manuka Oval, Canberra was his toughest playing in the GC SUNS guernsey.
The skipper out to ensure history doesn’t repeat when the two sides clash at Metricon Stadium this afternoon.
I know personally it’s still burning inside the loss we had to them last time, it was hard to take and I am going to make sure that I come out and do everything I possibly can for the team and make sure the boys are right up and ready to go.While he refuses to use injuries as an excuse heading into the Giants clash, Ablett admits he did have a few concerns as more than a third of the team that played Melbourne presented at the Club’s injury and rehab session after a bruising encounter with the Demons.
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“Even in my ten years at Geelong I haven’t seen that many players go down in one game and so it’s a little bit disappointing but at the same time GWS have got a few injuries at the same time and we won’t be using it as an excuse. We’ve got to come out this week and make sure we stick to the way that we want to play, play our structures and if we can do that there is no reason we cant come away with the win.”
Rather than lament the losses, Ablett is drawing positives from the inclusion of a number of exciting NEAFL players who have been knocking heavily on the first grade door for some time, saying there is no pressure or expectation on the new inclusions to do anything than play their role for the team.
I think when yu have got injuries, sometimes it can be a good thing it gives other guys an opportunity that have been knocking on the door and I am sure those guys will come in and play their role this week and play well for the side. If we can get all the guys playing their role and the way we want them to as a team it will go a long way towards getting us a win.
Yet to taste victory at Metricon Stadium, Ablett says those attending the second last home game of the season deserve to be rewarded for their passion and patience, he also feels it will be an important milestone for the playing group and Club administration.
“We obviously haven’t had a win at home yet and so it would be great to get the first win at home for the supporters and I guess everyone, the Club, the members and supporters. I know we have been working really hard towards getting this win and the boys have been training hard all week and they are really excited about getting into it and hopefully we can walk away with a win, it would be great.”
“It would be huge, we obviously go out to win every game and unfortunately lost the game against them last time which really hurt and we know what a great opportunity it is this weekend.”
Regardless of both team’s positions on the ladder, the GC SUNS skipper says victory will go to the team who manages to stick to their structures and run out all four quarters.
We know we have got to be at our best they had a great win last week and have been playing some great footy and if we don’t come out and play our best footy we will be disappointed.On talk of tanking.
“We want to win, there has obviously been a lot of talk but we don’t take any notice of that at the end of the day we want to get out there and have a win.”
The Gold Coast SUNS and GWS Giants will contest the NEAFL curtain raiser from 12.30pm with opening bounce for the main game from 4.40pm.
Get there early for the Peter’s Ice Cream Beach Party at the Fifth Quarter LIVE with live music from Mitzi and a bumper edition of SUNS TV from 3.30pm.
Click here for match day ticketing and transport information.
