How the Suns can win their first flag

When Damien Hardwick became Gold Coast coach he declared that 80 per cent of the Suns’ first premiership side was already in the building.

We are starting to see just how he plans to win their first flag.

While the Suns couldn’t just get over the line against premiership contenders GWS on Sunday in Mount Barker, it was a performance for three quarters that should give fans and Hardwick a lot of optimism about the future.

“We are not quite there yet but that is what we desire to be,” he said.

“I think so (he is seeing the blueprint for the Suns to become a good side), we saw the three debutants come in and they looked very, very good at various stages.”

It’s a future where Sam Flanders is the all-important creative spark off half-back.

Where Jack Lukosius’ immaculate field kicking is best used building from defence.

Where Jed Walter, Ethan Read and Ben King give them a three-headed monster of a forward line that has height, speed and pressure.

Where Mac Andrew intercepts everything down back, but doesn’t turn the ball over.

Where Sam Clohesy is just a player you can depend on, if his debut is any indication,

Add this to the powerful midfield of Touk Miller, Noah Anderson and Matt Rowell the Suns boast and the future looks bright on the Gold Coast.

“No matter what happens here today I think there is a bit of a shudder going through the competition with what they are seeing with the Gold Coast,” Brownlow Medallist Gerard Healy said on Fox Footy.

“Prior to seeing this talent on display I’m thinking they aren’t making the eight but the future is looking bright as they said it would.

“When you have talent like this it only takes them a couple of years to get things cracking.”