SUNS ‘NOT THERE TO MAKE UP NUMBERS’
SUNS coach David Lake has backed his emerging side to continue making “statements” against the AFLW’s best after another honourable 13-point loss against North Melbourne on Saturday in Melbourne.
They may be one of the AFLW premiership favourites, but the Kangaroos’ Arden Street homecoming wasn’t without nerves as the tenacious Suns fought until the dying stages.
The margin was a mere four points early in the fourth quarter after defender Lauren Ahrens kicked her first AFLW goal on the back of a 50m penalty but an upset away victory wasn’t to be, with North small forward Daisy Bateman kicking the winning goal late.
“Last week was challenge and response, and this week was challenge and response again,” Lake said.
“We won the second half, and what we do know about us is we keep coming.
“That’s gold when you’re a coach, that’s what your team is going to do.
“We’re not here to make up numbers, trust me, and we’ll keep making statements every week.”
Lake was quick to draw comparison to the Suns’ gusty draw against the Brisbane Lions in Round 3.
“Having gone through it the week before, having the opportunity to put Brisbane away and not quite getting there, we were in the same place again,” he said.
“The dam wall will eventually break; it might not be this week, but it might break next week.
“All the girls, the collective is learning at the same rate and the distance between good and bad in a game is not wide.”
The Suns’ next AFLW game is on Friday night against Geelong in Mackay.