The Gold Coast SUNS 2013 season was overwhelmingly regarded a success. 

The team more than doubling its number of wins, from three in 2011 & 2012 to eight, including six wins at Metricon Stadium. 

The victories at home are of significant importance, winning more than half of the team’s games at home means GC SUNS fans arrived at Metricon Stadium in 2013, not just expecting a contest, but believing the side could win. 

But it is the numbers behind the victories that emphasise the progress gained. 

Gold Coast SUNS Growth 2011 - 2102

GC SUNS coach Guy McKenna has constantly preached that his goal was to have his side compete for longer. 

In 2013, the GC SUNS won 38 quarters, up 12 on 2012. 

To win more games and quarters the GC SUNS on average scored three or more goals a match in 2013 than in previous seasons. 

However it wasn’t just scoring more that allowed the GC SUNS to improve. The team also restricted their opponents to score on average 95 points a game, down from 112points a game in 2012 and 124 points a game in 2011.

The improvement at both ends of the ground saw the GC SUNS percentage jump from 56.3% in 2011 and 60.8% in 2012 to 91.7% in 2013. 

The stat that indicates the teams overall improvement however is the fact that in both 2011 and 2012, the team was defeated by 60 points or more on nine occasions. In 2013, the team never suffered a defeat of that magnitude.

Highlighting the impact that injuries had on the team in 2013, McKenna declared prior to the season that he believed he had a core group of 35 players that he intended to play, however, the GC SUNS played 42 players in 2013.