Tipsters haven’t given the Gold Coast SUNS much hope as they prepare for Sunday's match against the inform Hawks, ironically Gold Coast Captain Gary Ablett isn’t phased by the comparisons or the blown out betting markets, in fact it gives him renewed hope for the future.

“I knew when I moved up here that it was going to take time and Hawthorn are a perfect example, Geelong are another example of a team that went through a rebuilding stage, they got a lot of young guys through the club and it took probably three to four years at Geelong before we started having that success and hopefully we can do that here.”

Both the Hawks and Geelong rose to a position of Premiership dominance after rebuilding with a youthful focus and Ablett says Sundays match will provide the top twenty two representing the Gold Coast SUNS with more vital big game experience at the MCG.To come against probably the inform side of the competition at the moment, I think big Buddy is a chance to come back as well which makes it even more of a challenge and at the same time we are super excited it’s always good to come up against these sides I think you learn a lot.

Piers Flanagan becomes the SUNS thirty sixth debutante in two years and their sixth this season after being selected to run out onto the hallowed MCG turf to take on the Hawks, Ablett confident Flanagan, along with the Clubs other new inclusions this week will make the most of their opportunities.
Every guy that gets a game for us and gets some game time is going to learn something because they are going to be matched up against a good player and that’s no doubt going to help us in the future. The skipper stopped short of using the Clubs crippling injury toll as an excuse, saying the twenty two selected need to take the contest to the home side from the opening bounce.

“We have twenty two guys going into the game just like Hawthorn have so you just never know.”

“On field as well I think the boys are really starting to know what each others strengths and weaknesses are and I think that’s a big part of what is required to have success in games.”

Warm up for Sundays match with SUNS TV on Seven mate from 4:00pm before the opening bounce at 4:40pm.