OUTPLAYED, NOT DISGRACED
Coach says thumping at MCG wasn’t backwards step for outgunned Suns
GOLD Coast coach Stuart Dew denied his team took a step back in its heavy loss to Collingwood yesterday after pushing Essendon last week.
The bottom-placed Suns’ losing streak this season extended to 15 games after their 69-point loss to the Magpies at the MCG – the first time the team had played at the venue this year.
Dew said his young side had been outclassed by a better opponent and talk of the Magpies’ injury problems had been overstated.
“We were beaten by a better opponent. I don’t think it was a step back by us,” Dew said.
“When they lifted, we couldn’t go with them ... their outside stuff was far too slick for us.
“But I don’t think it was a step back for us. (I’m) disappointed we couldn’t match them for longer, but we fought out the last quarter.
“There is a little bit of talk about their injuries, but when you run through their list, it’s a pretty good football side.”
Dew said there was no concern over ruckman Jarrod Witts, who finished the match on the bench after copping a knock to the knee late in the final quarter.
“About 11 minutes to go, he copped a little bit of a knock, but absolutely fine,” Dew said.
“We just weighed up the score and Wittsy’s workload and decided to leave him on the pine for the last bit. He wasn’t all that happy with that but that’s because he is a competitor.”
Dew said he was excited about the future for young forward Ben King, who kicked three goals after last week’s four-goal haul.
“It’s on the back of his attitude to hard work. He’s very humble, Ben, and the boys love him for it,” he said.
“His work ethic is outstanding and his application from the moment he walked into the footy club has been outstanding and just impressive on and off the field.
“He is … now hitting the scoreboard regularly and it’s exciting when you see a young lad like that … (11) games into his AFL career, we just need to make sure we facilitate his career and get him to fulfil his potential.”
The tests don’t get any easier in the coming weeks.
The Suns travel to Brisbane next Saturday to face a whitehot Lions side in a QClash before a Marvel Stadium game with the Hawks.
I THINK WE WERE BEATEN BY A BETTER OPPONENT. I DON’T THINK IT WAS A STEP BACK BY US. SUNS COACH STUART DEW