By Michael Whiting
Coach Guy McKenna believes Gold Coast still has the blueprint for success despite Sunday's loss against Geelong stretching its losing streak to 21 matches.
Gold Coast SUNS led at quarter and half-time against the Cats and was a completely different team to the one flogged by 126 points against West Coast the previous week.
However, the SUNS still lost by 14 points.
Gold Coast SUNS losing streak will reach the length of a season against Richmond in Cairns next Saturday unless it can replicate last year's win against the Tigers at the same venue.
McKenna said he was pleased with the SUNS effort against Geelong, with just a seven goals to three third quarter letting them down.
"To fight out the last quarter and kick the last three goals and finish 14 points down against Geelong was a tick in the box," McKenna said.
"Unfortunately the third quarter was our bogey quarter again."
McKenna said the challenge now was to replicate the performance against the Tigers next week.
He was adamant after running the premiers so close that the Suns were still on the right track despite being 0-14.
"I think I've said it enough about our good being good enough," he said.
"Regardless of whether it's Richmond in Cairns or North Melbourne at Etihad or Collingwood at the MCG, if you compete hard enough for long enough and use the ball well enough you give yourself a chance.
"The blueprint's there, it hasn't changed over 120 years of football. We don't want to use birth certificates or second year blues, but it's consistently delivering on that from week to week."
McKenna confirmed Joel Wilkinson's left ankle injury sustained in the first quarter meant he was unlikely to play next week.
Wilkinson hobbled out of the SUNS rooms post-match on crutches and in a moon boot.
"I'd be surprised if he came up next week," McKenna said.
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL
