Despite going down to Sydney by 38 points on a miserable evening at Metricon Stadium, the Gold Coast SUNS led many of the key indicators at the end of the night including clearances (+8) and contested possessions (+7).

The home side also enjoyed 11 more inside 50s in the opening half, but couldn’t convert onto the scoreboard with the Swans kicking 10 of the last 13 goals to run out comfortable winners.

Speaking to BLK RAW post-game, midfielder Touk Miller said the coaching staff had two simple messages on the night – to win the contested footy and bring the pressure, both of which were achieved despite the end result.

“It was wet footy. We knew that was coming so we prepared ourselves for that and I thought we actually played a really good brand of football and adapted to conditions,” Miller said.

“(The message was) contested footy. Pressure was definitely one of the main ones, or the main two.

“So as long as we brought those, keeping ourselves in the game, just gaining territory which I thought we did really well and obviously the contest as well.

“I think we were up in the contested ball as well so that’s really positive against a good team.“

Miller finished the game with a career-high 32 disposals (18 contested), five tackles and six inside 50s to mark a successful return from a persistent ankle injury that has dogged his 2016 campaign thus far.

The 19-year-old missed the last two games against Adelaide and West Coast, but returned to action against the Swans and said his body was in good shape.

“Sore at the moment, probably due to the conditions but body feels really good,” he said.

“My ankle feels really good which is positive and the whole reason I took the break, so looking forward to next week and the rest of the season.”

The SUNS travel to the MCG next Sunday to take on Richmond (4-7) and want to bring home the four premiership points after a difficult stretch of losses.

“We’re super keen to go down there and put some runs on the board. We’re going down there to win, the last few weeks have really built into it,” Miller said.

“It probably hasn’t shown on the scoreboard but we’re doing really well in terms of in-house and effort and we’re going to produce when we go down to Melbourne.”