He is using a simple measure to determine how competitive the team has been to this point in time: percentage.
With a percentage of 98.61 and three wins next to its name (in 2012 it was winless with a percentage of 61.46) he is pleased with what he's seeing.
"You can come up with various KPIs, as the coaches do around on-field measures, but for me the simplest measure is percentage," Auld told AFL.com.au. "It's very competitive and probably a little ahead of where we are … we're not under illusion, we've got a tough game against the Bulldogs (this week) and then we've got Hawthorn and Geelong."
If the SUNS defeat the Bulldogs on Saturday afternoon and Collingwood loses to Geelong it will be above them on the ladder after round eight.
Auld said the players were not only starting to believe that they belong in the AFL but they were beginning to have faith in the football program.
"It's hard for the assistant coaches and the coach to drive a certain game style when it is hard to support that with on-field results - albeit that it is the right structures and the right way to play the game," Auld said. "Now they are starting to see it come out in results [and] that reinforces belief in themselves and the program."
The SUNS are in their third season and made a concerted effort over the off-season to promote a renewed focus on their football program.
Gold Coast chairman John Witheriff committed the club in November last year to an ambitious target of winning a premiership within three seasons. It was a reminder to everyone that the club's objective was now to win flags.
Auld said the club was realistic enough to know that its performances remained inconsistent and there was still maturing to be done but the win at the MCG against Melbourne was significant in its evolution.
"Those little things are great for our supporters because it's part of the benefit of being there from the beginning as they were at the club when all these things happened," Auld said.
He said that the club's main focus now was to develop the talent on its list and although no option was ever ruled out at this stage of the season, the club believed it had invested in youth that were good enough with proper development to find success.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs
