At a similar time last season the Lions had skated to the top of the table on the back of four straight wins, but with injuries and off-field dramas dogging them, free-fell for the remainder of the season to win just three more games.
O'Donnell was standing in for an ill Michael Voss at Tuesday's press conference and said the Lions' coaching staff thought the group had developed despite the losing streak.
"Pressure keeps building each week," he said.
"Last year we were four and zero, this year we're the opposite, but it's a better club to be around as far as where we think we're heading. "
O'Donnell praised the development of the team's younger players, and said he expected to see strong improvement later in the year.
The Lions have given debuts to Claye Beams, Jared Polec, Rohan Bewick and Ryan Lester this season and have added games to the fledgling careers of Jesse O'Brien and Aaron Cornelius.
O'Donnell played down Saturday's clash with the Gold Coast, saying every week was a "win or nothing" match.
"At our stage of our development we have a few young guys coming through as well, just like the Suns - perhaps not as many - but we've got five or six in their first handful of games," he said.
"So (it's important) for them to get games under their belts and to get a consistent approach to the level of footy they play across a game, and getting the development in them is what we're all about.
"At times we've probably made some silly blues. When we've had control of a game and allowed teams back into a contest, the Melbourne game for example, (we have to) make sure we start well and play the game on our terms and make sure everyone has a consistent game."
The former Essendon premiership player said the Lions had the utmost respect for the Suns, and would be putting a particular emphasis on stopping their midfield.
With Brownlow medallist Gary Ablett, former Lions Michael Rischitelli and Jared Brennan, and no.1 draft pick David Swallow in the middle, O'Donnell said the Lions would have to keep close watch.
"We're fired up because we want our first win. In four of the games we've been in positions where we could win but we haven't been able to seal the deal, so it's time to seal the deal this week," he said.
"Certainly we're wanting to put our best foot forward, play some of the footy we think we can. (It's) the first QClash; first game against the Gold Coast.
"If you give them time and space, they get it into their forward line and they give themselves a chance, so it's up to us to make sure we close that off."
