SUNS midfielder Brayden Fiorini has thrown down the gauntlet ahead of Round 10 against Geelong this weekend.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday morning, Fiorini said the team’s second-half fadeout against Port Adelaide was not good enough and he is determined to respond against the Cats in Sir Doug Nicholls Round.
“We struggled in the second half on the weekend so we’ll be ready to bounce back,” Fiorini said.
“We’ll train hard during the week and hopefully start the way we did on the weekend.
“We’ll be striving for a four-quarter effort against Geelong, we definitely need that instead of just the half so we’re looking forward to it.”
Fiorini said the team were coming up against the rampant Cats “at a good time”, with the opportunity for the club to test itself against arguably the form team of the competition after nine rounds.
Gold Coast has been competitive in the majority of its games this year, and will need to be switched on from the first bounce this weekend.
“They’re in really good form and I’m really looking forward to it as are the boys just to really challenge us,” Fiorini said.
“A four-quarter effort is what we’re after, starting at the contest and playing our brand of footy with pressure on the ball.”
After missing last week with knee soreness, Fiorini returned with a flourish against Port Adelaide, accumulating 38 disposals and kicking the opening goal of the match.
Before his week of rest, the 21-year-old had played every match and is averaging an impressive 29 disposals per game.
“Personally I’ve been happy getting out and playing a good stretch of games without injury,” Fiorini said.
“I think it’s just that consistency to play as many games as I can and I’m happy with how I’m going but there’s still more to improve on.
“I’ve obviously been given a bit more responsibility with the leadership role and Dewy’s put me in the guts a little bit more this year and I’m loving that.
“(It’s) a little bit more responsibility but I’m just thriving with that so I’m enjoying it.”
The SUNS play Geelong at 7:25pm this Saturday in what is a triple-header at Metricon Stadium.
The NEAFL side kick proceedings off at 11:30am against the Sydney Swans, before the Gold Coast SUNS QW Winter Series team begins its season against the Brisbane Lions in a curtain raiser to the senior game at 4:45pm.
