By Michael Whiting

Gold Coast SUNS coach Guy McKenna said the confidence from winning on Saturday night was far more important than any draft picks the Suns would get for finishing near the bottom of the table.

The 30-point victory over GWS was the SUNS first ever at Metricon Stadium and bumped them ahead of the Giants into 17th place with three rounds remaining.

The team that finishes last will get the first pick inNovember's AFL National Draft, but McKenna refuted that was part of Gold Coast's pre-match thinking.

It's about winning and creating a winning culture andwe know how difficult that is, he said.

"We wanted to win, we wanted to build confidence, we wanted to give the supporters something to hang their hats on.

"The draft says you'll get a pick at some stage, we'lltake that pick. We've got enough good young kids. What we haven't got a lot of is wins at home and confidence and belief in what we're trying to set ourselves up for in the future.

"That was the goal."

McKenna said he hoped the win would spark a late-season rally by the SUNS who finish with difficult matches against Hawthorn (away), Carlton (home) and Adelaide (away).

"Early in our journey into AFL football it's probably going to be the darkest era of this football club," he said.

"When the tide turns it's going to become a powerhouse. You can all sit back and laugh and say 'what are you talking about Bluey, you've only just won your fifth game for the club'.

We know it's tough, we understand that ... copping some pain early, we know it's going to make these boys stronger.

Gold Coast will have to finish its season without former number one draft pick David Swallow, who will be put on ice with a knee injury.

Swallow has battled the problem for much of the season and did well to line up against the Giants, having a significant impact with 24disposals.

But McKenna said enough was enough for the West Australian, who has battled manfully with a number of ailments in 2012.

"I'd be stretching the friendship if I keep pushing the doctors and medicos and probably David too, he's such a combative footballer," McKenna said.

"I just think we can fast-track that (recovery) by giving him the rest of the year off and getting him ready for next season."

Lively half forward Liam Patrick is also likely to miss next week after sustaining a hamstring injury.

Click here to read the SUNS v Giants match report.

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL