Time for hard work is now – Ainsworth
BEN Ainsworth says the Suns need to get back to delivering on the non-negotiables that form the foundation of their football if they are to put a horror two weeks behind them and challenge reigning premiers West Coast.
The past fortnight has been reminiscent of Gold Coast’s 2018 season where steep drop-offs led to blownout scorelines.
The Suns have lost the past two games by a combined 122 points to Adelaide and Brisbane after starting the year having had their first four games decided by just 11 points.
The club’s style is built around making each game a contest through tackle pressure and work rate but in each of the losses they were not only outclassed, but outworked.
“We went away from things we know work for us and that is why the margin (against Brisbane) proceeded to what it was,” Ainsworth said. “We have to go back to our contest and our running ways to perform on the weekend. “It’s been a big focus for us in the review. That contest and effort wasn’t there for four quarters.”
Gold Coast sit at 3-3 going into the toughest road trip in the AFL as they prepare to take on a West Coast team smarting from two losses of their own at Optus Stadium in Perth on Saturday.
The Eagles thumped Gold Coast by 80 points when they last met in Round 4 last year at the same location.
Ainsworth said the Suns could use the performances of Port Adelaide and Geelong, who both beat West Coast in the past fortnight, to their advantage but was wary of the quality the Eagles possess.
“They are a well respected club and have some really good players so it will be a great test for us,” Ainsworth said.
“You definitely cannot take them light hearted.
“We will go there with the mindset of taking four points. Every week we aim to (prove ourselves).
“We are not just here to make up numbers, we are here to perform for the members of the Gold Coast and us as a football club.”
WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO OUR CONTEST AND OUR RUNNING WAYS TO PERFORM ON THE WEEKEND GOLD COAST’S BEN AINSWORTH