SENIOR COACH McKenna has squashed rumours the Gold Coasters won’t be able to maintain their combative style of play during the second-half of the premiership race, suggesting his players may  return with even more of a hunger for the hard football after leading the competition in total contested possessions at the half-way mark of the season.

“There’s a myth out in the AFL world that the Gold Coast SUNS might hit the wall at some stage,” McKenna said.

“We are going to have some quality players coming back in the second half of the season and I’d like to think on the back of Stephen Schwerdt’s program that they have been well managed to ensure we can mitigate any further minor injuries.”

It’s been an impressive first half of the season for the Gold Coasters, sit in 12th position on the Premiership ladder with 5 and 7 win loss record, but more importantly earned the respect of the AFL community as they pushed a number of the competitions flag favourites to the final siren in recent months.

‘While it has been really encouraging, especially on the back of another pre-season and a solid NAB Cup tournament, we have set out at the start of the year to play four quarters of consistent AFL football and we probably have only managed to complete three at this point,” he said.

“In some cases those three quarters have allowed us to win games of football, but I would still like to put together four quarters of serious AFL football because when we start to do that then we start to give ourselves a really good chance against any team in the competition.

“It’s certainly getting pretty exciting though.”

While the GC SUNS lead the competition in clearances and contested possessions, McKenna admitted there was still plenty of hard work to be done, however said it might be time for the club to reassess the goals and objectives set at the start of the 2013 Premiership Season.

“In the business world when you meet your budget and realise you’re turning over a profit you tend to find yourself adjusting to new goals and setting new challenges for yourself,” McKenna.

“However, I still don’t like to put a number on the board regarding wins and losses.”

The Gold Coast’s lack of experience and maturity against the bigger bodies of the AFL has often been seen as a weakness for McKenna and his ambitious list strategy committee, however the dual-premiership winning defender says the tables are beginning to turn as the nucleus of the club’s developing stars edge closer towards the 50-game milestone.   

“Our youth and inexperienced players of the past are now starting to grow up and get that much-needed exposure and development around the stoppage situations,” he said.

“Many of our 10 and 20 game players are also starting to edge closer to that 30 and 40 game mark meaning there understanding the game better and as a unit we are beginning to extract the ball out of clearances better.

“It’s all part of getting continuity amongst our side.”

But although the team’s back-six are beginning to gain familiarity between themselves with Rory Thompson, Tom Murphy, Trent McKenzie and Sam Day pitched in as regulars so far this year down back, McKenna told goldcoastfc.com.au there were still several key defenders waiting in the wings that weren’t too far away from pushing for a first team recall.

“Matthew Warnock, Nathan Bock and Seb Tape would argue that the structures down back aren’t set in stone just yet,” said McKenna.

“When in good form and food health, those three players are in our backline so it will clearly put some heat on the boys that are in there now.

“The competition for spots, in those spots, is sure to drive people to perform better though which is great news for our club.”

And it’s no wonder McKenna is looking forward to attacking the second-half of the season with an extra bounce in his step, with his side scheduled to take on only three of the current top eight teams in their next twelve matches in their bid for a historic finals appearance.

“The boys have become more confidence and there’s a definite self-belief growing within the group,” he said.

“I think that the exciting and youth is going to override the minor injuries we sustained in the first-half of the season, and I’m really looking forward to us finishing off the year in strong fashion.”

The Gold Coast SUNS host the Adelaide Crows at Metricon Stadium on Saturday the 29th of June. Purchase your tickets here.