The Gold Coast Suns are back on the winners list after breaking their 10-game losing streak against St Kilda at Metricon Stadium on Saturday.
The Suns were dominant in their 40-point win, in a performance that has been touted as one of their most complete in their short history.
On Saturday, many of the Suns’ stars shined, ex-Lion Michael Rischitelli led the way finishing with 33 disposals, followed by Nick Malceski (30 touches and one goal), Aaron Hall (27 touches and two goals), Dion Prestia (26 disposals and two goals) and Gary Ablett (25 disposals and one goal).
Speaking to the media on Monday morning, Ablett turned his attention to this week’s match, against the Brisbane Lions, saying that he expects QClash 12 to be a fiery game.
"It’s a big game for both teams… We expect it to be a fiery start to the game. They’re (The Brisbane Lions) going to come out and be physical, and we are as well,” Ablett said.
“We believe our best is good enough to beat them. But we need to make sure that we bring that.”
Speaking to The Courier Mail on the weekend, Stef Martin, who was knocked unconcious by a bump from Suns defender Steven May last time we met, said he expects a bit of heat in this weekend’s game.
“Internally, those sorts of things (the May bump) can fire a group up. Externally, it could be built up. People can judge for themselves but there’s definitely more heat on this game now,’’ Martin told The Courier-Mail.
Before this weekend, the Suns’ hadn’t won a game since Round 3, the week before the Lions met them at the Gabba. Ablett believes that game was the most disappointing of their Season.
"It was a disappointing loss in Round 4 against them. We went into that game quietly confident that if we played the brand of football and style of football that we wanted to play that we would beat them,” Ablett said.
"That was probably our most disappointing game for the Season.
"From there we hadn’t won a game from Round 3 up until the game on the weekend.”
There were plenty of positives to come out of the Suns’ win against the Saints, which Ablett says has filled his team with confidence.
"We’re confident that if we play the brand of football that we played on the weekend, we’ll beat them,” he said.
"Eight games left, and hopefully we can finish the year strongly.
The Brisbane Lions will now be looking to get back onto the winners list, with their last win coming against the Suns earlier this year.
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