Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew praised the impact of Touk Miller’s match-winning performance on Sunday night, highlighting the midfielder’s ability to play an attacking game as well as an ‘accountable’ role on Lions star Dayne Zorko.
The Lions came hard at the SUNS in the final quarter and were within a goal of victory in the final minutes of the match, before a match-saving smother from Miller stopped a Jacob Allison kick into the Lions’ forward line.
The important smother was the icing on the cake for a great game for Miller, who racked up 21 touches and seven clearances for the match while keeping 2017 All Australian Zorko to 10 possessions.
Miller won the Marcus Ashcroft Medal for best on
Speaking after the SUNS’ 11.10 (76) to 10.11 (71) victory at the Gabba, Dew said some of Miller’s efforts were ‘special’ and should be celebrated by the SUNS midfielder before turning his attention to next week.
"He is one that can still get the ball. I think he ended up with 21 possessions, so he certainly just plays it accountable," Dew said.
"It’s not a shut-down (role), otherwise Touk would end up with five or six touches.
"He is a trusted onballer that we all love the way he goes about it."
Dew said he was happy with the way his team responded to a testing road trip to Western Australia, where the SUNS lost to Fremantle (28 points) and West Coast (80 points).
After a couple of days off at the start of the week, Dew said his players were desperate to make a good impact at the start of the game.
"We were clear we were coming to win and we wanted to win – we didn’t want to get experience as such," he said.
"We had to respond after last week.
"I think Brisbane responded as well, so I’m sure everyone that made the effort to get here tonight saw a good show."
READ: SUNS hold on for gripping QClash win
The SUNS now sit at 3-2 on the ladder, with
Given they haven’t played a game at their Metricon Stadium home yet, it is a good effort for a SUNS team that finished 17th last year.
Dew said there was a strong feeling of "togetherness" at the club, with players enjoying spending time together and seeking to improve each week.
"I think we are doing things all together, whether that is a bad loss in the west or a good win here in the QClash," he said.
Dew said an injury to Darcy Macpherson, who kicked two goals early before succumbing to a lower leg injury, was a sour point on the night.
The length of Macpherson’s stint on the sidelines due to the injury is yet to be determined.
