If you want to beat Fremantle, just take the game on.
That's the advice from Gold Coast spearhead Tom Lynch in the wake of his side's triumphant 26-point victory over last season's minor premiers.
Lynch was a forward focal point at Domain Stadium, booting five goals as the SUNS announced themselves as the real deal with a composed triumph on Saturday night.
As Fremantle coach Ross Lyon conceded his side had "a lack of leg speed" in his post-match press conference, Lynch revealed exploiting that area had been a big part of Gold Coast's blueprint for success.
"One of the key messages was to bring that effort we have been bringing so far and really take the game on," the big forward said.
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"We saw the Bulldogs play quick (against Fremantle) and that seemed to work last week. Our focus was really when we could go quick, use our speed and we thought we had an advantage over them in that area."
Fremantle has been a daunting prospect under Lyon but will go into next weekend's western derby in unfamiliar territory at 0-2.
They leaked 103 points against the Bulldogs in round one while Gold Coast's score of 19.12 (126) was the biggest kicked against the Dockers since 2011.
"It's early on in the season but it's great for the belief. We know if we play Rocket's (coach Rodney Eade) game-plan, we're fit enough, and the game-plan stands up," Lynch said.
The SUNS finished with a decisive 44-31 clearance advantage as the usually miserly Dockers unit was cracked open.
"We thought going into the game we just had to compete in the middle; we know they're a great stoppage side," Lynch said.
"We got good bounce off the half-back line with (Adam) Saad, (Jarrod) Harbrow, (Trent) McKenzie, those sort of guys, they gave us great drive forward."
Lynch combined with Jack Martin, who kicked four majors, to cause big headaches for Fremantle's defence. The duo provided crucial avenues to goal when the SUNS needed them most, particularly in the second half as the home side rallied.
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The SUNS took the game by the scruff of the neck in the second term to lead by 29 points at the long break and weathered several momentum swings in the quarters that followed.
Lynch stamped his authority on the contest with two second-quarter goals, while Martin helped keep Freo at arm's length with two telling majors late in the third term.
"It was a good bit of maturity from the group," Lynch said.
"They (Fremantle) got off to a good start and got probably three goals ahead of us and it was good we managed to bring it back and get a nil-all draw in the first quarter.
"We set ourselves up in that second and third quarters."
Lynch, 23, has already won a best-and-fairest with the SUNS, and is coming for the rest of the competition.
"I think I'm old enough now. I'm coming into my sixth season. I've got good belief that I can match it with all defenders," he said.
