By Michael Whiting

Gold Coast SUNS utility Matt Shaw says the club's coaching staff helped him get over an initial bout of homesickness in his early days with the GC SUNS.

Shaw was one of the first GC SUNS taken in 2009 under the AFL's rule permitting the club to sign 12 players born between January and April 1992.

He came north from Dandenong, Victoria, and said the initial stages were difficult.

"At the start when I first came up, I missed my family a lot, and my friends, and it took a bit of getting used to," he said.

"But as soon as you come up here you get mixed in with the footy family and start to feel more comfortable and you have all your mates, it's almost like another family.

"It's great with all the coaching staff. If you have any problems you can talk to them and they're very helpful."

Shaw has certainly found his feet now, playing four senior games in Gold Coast SUNS first seven.

He made his debut against Melbourne in round four at the Gabba and celebrated with a first-quarter goal.

The 19-year-old played his best match last weekend, notching 21 disposals in the 57-point loss to Adelaide.

Shaw said he had taken advantage of the club's four days off as part of their bye week before resuming training on Thursday.

"I went home and caught up with mates and had a bit of a surf and chilled out," he said.

"It's obviously very important for the older boys to recharge the batteries and catch up with family and obviously the young boys as well get to go to their home states and catch up with mates and their family as well.

"There's obviously a few tired boys among the group so it was good for them to recharge the batteries."

Shaw has shown his versatility by doing a number of jobs for coach Guy McKenna, including playing a run-with role with Aaron Davey and hunting possessions in the midfield against the Crows.

He said the GC SUNS were starting to get excited about playing at Metricon Stadium for the first time on May 28 against Geelong.

"The first time I came here I saw the old stadium get torn down and slowly get rebuilt again," he said.

"Every day the boys are rocking up to training seeing something new on it and go, 'Wow, look at that'.

"It's going to be great, so we're very excited."

Shaw said while it would be a little daunting, the GC SUNS did not fear Geelong and were looking forward to seeing where they compared with a top team.  

Visit metriconstadium.com.au or click here for more information on the Stadium.