Gold Coast SUNS captain Gary Ablett remains supremely confident his side is heading in the right direction with finals footy firmly on the agenda for 2017.

The dual Brownlow medallist has played 95 games in the red and gold without tasting September action, but had a strong message for the SUNS fan base in a press conference at Metricon Stadium on Monday morning.

“I’d just say to our supporters I know we’re heading in the right direction,” Ablett said.

“I know it’s been frustrating for a lot of people, it’s been frustrating for the group but I’m confident we can finish the season off strongly and play some finals footy next year.”

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The key to getting more wins on the board in the latter stages of 2016 and building into next year is self-belief, with the playing group’s positivity through a difficult three months steadfast despite a raft of injuries and less than satisfying on-field results.

“I think the challenge for us as a group is making sure that we’re staying positive during the week, whether we win or lose,” Ablett said.

“Obviously still challenging each other and driving standards but at the same time staying positive and knowing we’ve got 18 guys out there each week just like the other team.

“We believe we play the right brand of football but we just haven’t been putting it together for four quarters and that’s what we need to do week in, week out.”

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As the skipper has touched on previously, the SUNS need to be focusing on the ‘basics of football’, replicating what the good sides of the competition do on a weekly basis.

“The effort needs to be there and we need to be doing the basics of football well. That’s hitting targets we should hit, that’s using your body properly, body positioning, running patterns, all those things the good sides do well,” he said.

“We’ve been working on those and I think we’re getting a lot better at them but it’s going to take a little bit of time.

“I know we’ve been around for six years now but we probably didn’t train them enough early days and we’re starting to do that now.”