Gold Coast SUNS Senior Coach Stuart Dew hopes the SUNS loyal membership base can be proud of the side’s performance tonight after a thrilling 44 point victory over the Eagles.

Speaking after the game, Dew was pleased with performance but said the challenge now was to back it up.

“Our aim is to play exciting, hard running, manic pressure football,” Dew said.

“Unfortunately, we couldn’t have any of our fans there to see it but we know they’d be watching and hopefully they’d be proud of that group.

“I think we ran the game out well but also I think there was manic pressure on the opposition, so if we wanted to put in a CV together for our supporters it would be this game.

“Now the challenge is to replicate it.”

The overall team performance was highlighted by that of last year’s number one pick, Matt Rowell who shone in only his second AFL Game.

“We started him in the centre bounce, it wasn’t a gesture to get him into the game, we thought he could influence from the start.”

“We’ve seen him for the last few months, it’s no surprise because we see him every day and the work he puts in, and how dedicated he is, is testament to him.”

“He just loves footy; he’ll eat up anything that you give him in terms of footy. He just wants to impact the game for the team.”

Dew referred to an interview Rowell and number two pick Noah Anderson gave before they were drafted.

“If you go back to both Matt and Noah’s comments before the draft, obviously they were a little bit aware they were coming to us, but they spoke about the journey and coming here to make an impact for the team.”

The Eagles had the ascendency for a period in the second quarter, but a young SUNS outfit managed to strangle it back.

“There was that period where they got three goals from stoppage and a couple from centre bounce and the centre bounce ones when Nic (Naitanui) comes through are pretty potent and momentum shifting.”

“But then we were able to just grind away and we spoke about that before the game every team gets a swing it’s how much can you get it back and limit the damage, but get it back on your terms, it was a good response.”

The SUNS will now turn their attention to the Adelaide Crows on Sunday afternoon at Metricon Stadium.