Michael Whiting
Ruckman Zac Smith has called on a special effort from Gold Coast SUNS young brigade when the undermanned SUNS play North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
With captain Gary Ablett (knee) and Jarrod Harbrow (elbow) to miss and Michael Rischitelli (ankle) and David Swallow (hip) in severe doubt, the depleted SUNS have been robbed not only of enormous talent, but experience as well.
Smith, 22, said the largely unheralded SUNS had no choice but to rise to the challenge – and he was ready to lead from the front.
"I think a lot of the young boys need to step up, including myself. We just need to put our head over the footy," Smith said.
"I'd like to say our young guys will step up as leaders. Gaz does have a lot of voice out there, so it'll be good to see the boys step up."
Smith finished third in last year's NAB AFL Rising Star award and after a slow first fortnight of 2012 has started to find some form in the past two rounds, averaging 17 disposals and 21 hit-outs.
He will come up against the imposing Kangaroos duo of Todd Goldstein and Hamish McIntosh without an experienced midfield around him.
But the 205cm Smith said the SUNS had to concentrate on effort, and everything else would take care of itself.
"You don't need talent to provide effort and that's been the talk around the club," he said.
"We just need to go into the game with a mindset of intent and effort and keep that up for four quarters.
"(Against) the Lions last week we were pretty good in the first half and dropped away in the second half and when your effort drops you've got nothing. We need to play consistently with effort."
Smith said the players were down after losing by 65 points against the Lions, but despite the increasing injury toll, had turned around their attitude during training this week.
"We want to have a real crack. We need to go into the game with confidence and take the game on and then slow them down because they're a pretty good run-and-carry side. I think if we can do that, we'll come out on top."
