Gold Coast captain Steven May says Saturday's "dream" win over Sydney was the circuit-breaker he and the SUNS needed.
Whether it was talk about the club's 11-game losing streak, the status of free agent Tom Lynch, the fallacy of the club possibly being shut down, or even speculation around his own future, May said 2018 had been tough.
But the monumental 24-point upset of the Swans has changed things.
Speaking on Monday afternoon, May said the win was not only a relief, but evidence the SUNS were now getting things right.
"That was only a glimpse, but it does reinforce we have started to make the right changes off-field and building that culture and foundation … is just starting to pay off," May said.
"When I woke up on Sunday I was still thinking I'd had a good dream, and it was reality.
"I've had a few of those dreams where they've been the other way around, where I've woken up after a big loss, so it was good to flip it around."
May said celebrating on the full-time siren with fellow inaugural SUNS Rory Thompson and Jarrod Harbrow was a "magical" moment after never getting within five goals of Sydney in eight previous attempts.
"It's just a build-up of a lot of things, frustrating losses, constant speculation about me and also bagging the team saying we should shut the club down, relocate to Tassie – and that's just people doing their jobs, but it gets tiring after a while.
"I'm the one up the front trying to preach it each week and when there's no results to back it up, it gets hard sometimes, but you've just got to be persistent.
"I'll come into training today up and about, smiling, and I haven't been smiling a lot this year.
"It's one win, but guys out of contract want to see where the club is heading.
"I've seen some things saying I'm not invested, tossing up my future, but my job is to lead from the front on and off the field.
"I'm contracted for next year and I like to think I'm putting my body on the line each week, playing through some injuries and doing my best.
"I'm looking forward to next year with the team, and hopefully we can make a few more changes to the list and create a strong side."
