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By Michael Whiting
Gold Coast SUNSdefender Matthew Warnock harbours no ill feelings towards his former club Melbourne, but says he can't wait to take on the Demons in the NAB Cup on Saturday night.
Warnock, 27, was traded from the Demons to the GC SUNS at the end of 2011 after playing 55 games over six seasons for Melbourne. He played just four matches last year.
The 194cm, 95kg key defender was seen as a perfect fit for a young GC SUNS backline lacking height and strength, and he said he was looking forward to playing his old team first-up at Metricon Stadium.
"I left on pretty good terms, no ill feelings or anything like that," Warnock said.
"I still keep in contact with quite a few of the boys. They've had big changes at the club as well. It'll be great to play against them but at the end of the day it's just another game of footy.
"Gold Coast SUNS has been great. The lifestyle is obviously a bit different to Melbourne - great weather, beaches and all that sort of thing, so [I am] really enjoying it so far."
Warnock is set to slot in at full-back, with Nathan Bock missing the first two games of the regular season through suspension and slated to spend more time forward in 2012.
With relatively inexperienced teammates around him, the former Demon said he had to provide some leadership in the back half.
"I guess I've taken it on a little bit, being one of the older guys down there," he said.
"At the moment Bocky's been playing forward, but he could be either end of the ground, and I guess there's a few young guys down back so naturally you take it on a little bit."
Bock's move forward leaves some vacancies at the back, and Warnock has been impressed by a couple of his younger teammates.
"I think Steven May has really stepped up," he said.
"He's got himself fit and got himself in really good shape from the start of pre-season. He's dropped a few skinnies (skinfolds) and has been training well.
"Sebby Tape is in good form, Mav Weller has done a full pre-season so I think we've got quite a few young guys to choose from and we'd be expecting a pretty big improvement this year."
Gold Coast SUNS is expected to name its strongest team possible for the double header against Melbourne and the Brisbane Lions when its squad is announced on Thursday.
