The SUNS walked off Metricon Stadium on Saturday evening having impressed many in the football world with a brave performance against finals bound GWS.
A side hampered by injury, it was expected Gold Coast would be fighting an uphill battle to match it with their more fancied opponents from the first bounce.
The story went quite differently, although the final result still fell the Giants' way.
Assistant coach Dean Solomon said although his side were disappointed they didn’t walk away with the win, development and effort were evident throughout the game.
“Absolutely, disappointing to not come away with the four points, but we’re really proud of how our guys went about it, their effort,” Solomon told the media on Monday afternoon.
“The way they went about implementing our game plan was top shelf, there’s a lot of positive out of that game.”
Although the execution of the SUNS’ game plan managed to push the then second-placed Giants for the majority of the game, the inexperienced side did slip on occasion, with its structures breaking down in the final crucial minutes.
“There is always two battles when you go into the game. Obviously the opposition, which we always respect, but also adhering to your own game plan,” Solomon said.
“Just a couple of times throughout the game that’s where we broke down, couple of structures in particular late in the game.
“That’s probably the disappointing part.”
With just three games left in 2016, the SUNS’ focus quickly shifts to Essendon and finishing the season with strong momentum.
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The Bombers might be placed 18th on the ladder with just one win under their belt, but Solomon says that isn’t reflective of their recent style of play.
“You look at their last five or six weeks and they’ve been playing a really good brand of footy,” he said.
“Where they sit on the ladder doesn’t really resemble the style of play they are playing at the moment.
“Like we do all sides, we’ll drill really deep into Essendon and how they’re playing and find ways to try and beat them."
