By Michael Whiting

Gold Coast SUNS coach Guy McKenna said the GC SUNS younger brigade had to stand up and help Gary Ablett on a weekly basis after their 59-point loss to North Melbourne on Saturday night.

The Brownlow medallist played a lone hand in the disappointing performance, collecting 38 disposals, kicking two goals and doing much of the grunt work.

McKenna said the GC SUNS needed three more of Ablett on the field, such was his dominance.

"His performance from day dot - and he's been hounded by the press about not being a leader - we can't fault him," McKenna said.

"He's flying the flag and if we keep turning the ball over like that we'll send him into an early retirement that's for sure.

"It was like Gary won it in the midfield, then kicked it forward and he was almost at the fall of the next ball.

"He's a professional. I have no doubt he'd be physically doing it tougher playing for us rather than his old mob (Geelong) because he had bigger bodies around him. It's waiting for the younger boys to come up and shoulder the responsibility."

McKenna said while the GC SUNS had experienced players like Michael Rischitelli, Jared Brennan, Daniel Harris and Danny Stanley around the ball, Ablett still needed help.

"It's about the ebbs and flows of those young boys and they need to understand that's what AFL footy is all about," McKenna said

"There can't be any birth certificates, the boys need to understand week in, week out, contest by contest, they need to show up and play. We can't rely on Gary each week.

"I don't think it's going to be too long before David Swallow can stand on his two feet and compete in the midfield. We're certainly asking a lot of the young blokes on a week to week basis."

McKenna pointed directly to the GC SUNS poor ball use as the major reason for their performance against the Kangaroos.

Despite winning the clearances by a landslide 50-29, Gold Coast SUNS were never in the contest.

Their disposal efficiency was terrible, particularly by foot (71 ineffective kicks from 191).

"We need some composure around the footy," he said.

"It was a nasty result because it was at our home stadium. We had a crack against Geelong (in round 10) but fell away.

"Here was an opportunity against a side that has lost some football and wasn't playing footy like Geelong and the boys were up for it and then we get jumped in the first quarter. "