ICE MEN EMERGE
SUNS’ KEY LESSON IN PAIN:
DARCY Macpherson says the Suns have learnt a valuable lesson in how to ice a game and believes they will be ready when four points are on the line again.
Gold Coast’s final minute one-point loss to Melbourne, after being up by six points with 48 seconds left, was a focal point of their post-game review and training this week.
Macpherson said the team didn’t follow the systems put in place for the situation they found themselves in.
“It was on all of us, coaches, players that we should have refreshed our brains with the structures but we didn’t,” Macpherson said.
“From now on we know what we need to do and we have addressed that. Moving forward, in those situations we will have a clear idea.”
Macpherson said Gold Coast wasted valuable seconds celebrating Nick Holman’s goal, costing them precious time to organise their next move.
“We want to get an extra number behind the ball and concertina back from there (in that situation),” Macpherson said.
“We need to be switched on after a goal has been kicked. On the weekend Holman kicked his goal and we sort of celebrated that then left it a bit short for us to get our heads around saving the game.
“From the lines as well so mids, forwards and forwards to mids and even the backs, getting across it as a group and (coach Stuart Dew) nailing down on it at training so if it comes again, say this Sunday (against Port Adelaide), we are fully across it.”
Macpherson played the best game of his 25-game AFL career against the Demons, gathering 27 disposals and kicking a goal at forward while enjoying short stints in the midfield.
The 21-year-old said he wanted to build on the performance and while a longterm shift into the midfield is his goal, he is happy pinchhitting in the centre for now.
“One hot day doesn’t make a summer,” he said.
“I put in a good performance so I was pretty surprised with that. I want to build on that and keep going and not just make that one game my best game.
“I definitely see myself being a midfielder in the long run but right now I’m a small forward who pinch hits in the midfield to give blokes like Dave (Swallow) and Jack Martin a chop-out when they need it.”
Macpherson has had it tough. Rookie listed by Gold Coast in 2015, he was injured in his first season, restricted in his second until someone was injured and broke his leg last year after starting well.
“It’s made me so hungry to perform and be better every day,” Macpherson said.