Coast out of NEAFL finals but big lesson learnt
SUNS NEAFL coach Stephen Daniel says the team will spend their pre-season working to transform themselves into a powerhouse side like the Sydney Swans.
The Gold Coast reserves team were outworked and outclassed across the board in their 21.16 (142) to 11.8 (74) preliminary final loss to the Swans at Blacktown International Sportspark on Saturday, ending their season one game before the grand final.
Sydney’s entire side was made up of AFL-listed players while the Suns carried 16 in along with some academy players.
Every successful AFL club has a strong reserves team and Daniel said the Suns had been shown the benchmark by Sydney who beat them four times this year.
“We spoke about it as a group after the game – they are the best team by a mile in the NEAFL competition and that’s what we want to strive to be like,” Daniel said. “We need to go away over the pre-season and keep working and working and get bigger and stronger to get to where they are. They are a great benchmark and we are striving to get there.”
Sydney kicked six first quarter majors and kept the Suns goalless in the second term as the Swans took a 78-point lead into halftime. Gold Coast improved in the second half but the game was already gone.
“We were beaten by a bigger, stronger outfit,” Daniel said.
James Rose and Shaun Edwards kicked four goals each for Sydney while ruckman Brayden Crossley managed three for the Suns.