Midfielder Hugh Greenwood says being stronger for longer was the message from Senior Coach Stuart Dew following Saturday afternoon’s defeat against Port Adelaide at Metricon Stadium.

The SUNS found themselves on the back foot from the beginning with the visitors applying plenty of pressure around the contest, before wrestling some control back in a two-goal-to-one final term.

The contest was just about beyond the Gold Coast by that point and Greenwood says the SUNS need to be able to emulate that final quarter showing for a whole four quarters.

“They brought the heat from the get-go, and we didn’t really rise to that,” Greenwood said.

“They put us under the pump, took us away from what we wanted to do. Our pressure, intent, and hunt when the ball is on the deck is usually our strength and they flipped that on us.

“(The message from Senior Coach Stuart Dew was) Being stronger for longer and absorbing that pressure they brought. We saw in the last quarter when we rose and brought our pressure and hunt.

“Why we can’t do that for four quarters is something we need to address.

“We know we’re capable of doing it, but throughout the year we’ve done it in patches. While we’ll take some positives from the last quarter, the first three quarters were a huge letdown.”

Greenwood was at his bullish best around the contest, leading all comers with 14 tackles to go with 10 contested possessions.

The SUNS next face North Melbourne at Hobart’s Blundstone Arena in a homecoming of sorts for the 29-year-old Tasmanian.

Greenwood says there’s plenty of competition for places rising from the SUNS VFL squad for the crucial clash against the Kangaroos.

“I haven’t played there since I was kid so I’m pretty keen to get down there,” Greenwood continued.

“There are some guys playing good football in the VFL.

“North (Melbourne) play some really good footy in Hobart and we’re expecting a cold, wet and windy one.”