By Ben Collins

GOLD Coast coach Guy McKenna will continue to encourage his young team to play high-risk football despite being made to pay dearly for mistakes by Collingwood at the MCG on Sunday.

McKenna estimated the Suns gifted the Magpies "12 to 14" goals through skills errors in their 97-point defeat.

But he was pleased with his side's willingness to move the ball quickly and adventurously – a theme he said the coaching staff had pushed with the players.

"We'd moved the ball fairly well against a couple of sides maybe a month ago (but) the last two weeks we moved the ball slowly and were actually hurting ourselves," McKenna said.

"So this week against Collingwood, who are fantastic defensively, we just wanted to move the ball quickly.

"I was happy – if this makes sense – for the turnover because the boys were going for it."

McKenna then made a naval analogy.

"A ship ain't designed to sit at the harbor; it's designed for rough weather, so get out there and be bold – go for it," he said.

"If we sit back, we don't improve, or we improve marginally.

"The idea was to take those kicks on because good sides do it … (But) it was going to expose us.

"Coaching-wise, was that a good move against Collingwood coming off Adelaide and their mojo's back? Well, better we do that against a better side because the quicker these boys learn it, the quicker we'll be a better side."

Although he realised he might be ridiculed for the opinion, McKenna also said he was pleased with his team's workrate.

"You’re probably going to laugh at this, but we actually thought our effort was OK," he said.

"I just think we got blown out of the park by a very good side. They took their opportunities.

"We actually had the ball more in our forward half in the second half than theydid. They kick 11 goals to two, but that probably sums up where the two sides are at.

"Our key forwards versus their key forwards, you’re talking five, six, seven years of experience. I'm more than confident that Tom Lynch and Sam Day, (if) we give them the same time frame in the AFL, the result could have been completely the other way."