Gold Coast SUNS coach Guy McKenna doesn’t believe North Melbourne will use last season’s round 11 defeat at Metricon Stadium as motivation for this Sunday’s clash at Etihad Stadium.
Aside from the GC SUNS convincing victory over finals regular, Collingwood, the Club’s sensational win over the Kangaroos was arguably their best effort from the 2013 season.
Gold Coast shone in torrential rain to down the Kangas at Metricon Stadium as they overcame an early deficit to run out as 9.12 (66) to 8.3 (51) victors.
McKenna doesn’t believe history will play a part in this weekend’s clash in Melbourne, though, suggesting the Kangaroos mentor will have to prepare no differently to any other premiership match fixture this season.
“I’m not sure if that would be his main motivation; I think most Coaches would be looking at what they (the opposition) do really well,” McKenna said.
“North are 4-2 and have beaten some really good sides this year and I’m sure they’ll be looking at us wanting to put us away as well.”
It will be just the seventh time the playing group has competed on the Docklands surface, and while they are yet to sing the team song in the away dressing room at Etihad, McKenna is confident his players are ready to stamp their mark at the domed venue.
“Our players are very resilient and very keen for the contest,” he said.
“I don’t think it matters where they play or who they play, they have been keen as mustard.
“They have been keen as mustard for the first two years and only won six games so our record travelling interstate clubs is going to be poor for the next three-four years based on our history.
“But going forward of course we are going to start nailing a few of those games.”