Luke Russell says the Gold Coast SUNS are already looking ahead to Saturday’s clash against West Coast at Patersons Stadium, with the match looming as one of the club’s biggest tests for 2013 as the boys in red prepare to confront one of the most hostile home crowds in the AFL landscape. 

“It’s going to be massive, we just want to take as much away as we can from the Carlton game and learn from our mistakes,” Russell told goldcoastfc.com.au.

“Hopefully this week we can travel to Perth and execute some of the things we weren’t able to against the Blues.”

Russell pinned down the SUNS 43-point loss to costly turnovers and fundamental errors, the Gold Coast recording more clangers (46-39) than the opposition and a 71.2% disposal efficiency compared the Blues more presentable 76.3%. 

The in-form Gold Coaster said the playing group would be out to make amends for their poor ball usage against the Eagles in the Round 19 fixture.

“The skill errors certainly hurt us, and not being able to finish our work off probably cost us as well,” Russell said.

“But full credit to Carlton – they got on top of our midfield and continually bombed it long to our defensive area.

“We just couldn’t do anything about it.”

Despite the fourth quarter drop-off, a near 20,000 spectators stayed on til the final siren to cheer the home team off the ground, a gesture kindly noted by the entire playing group.

“The large crowd support is definitely good for the SUNS boys and our fans,” he said.

“It’s been great to see the support in recent weeks and it’s good for AFL football on the Gold Coast as well.”