Should Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick be concerned already?
That’s what Kane Cornes was left to ponder after the Suns were comfortably beaten by 44 points by GWS - 15.15 (105) to 9.7 (61) - in the AAMI Community Series on Thursday night.
The Suns were battered in the contest, losing contested possessions 114-155, they were easily beaten in clearances 34-45 and comprehensively lost the inside 50 count 41-72.
Cornes believes the way they played so close to the season proper is a cause for concern for Hardwick who has set the goal of finals in his debut campaign at the club.
He asked David King on SEN Breakfast: “Are there warning signs at Gold Coast?
“They’ve spoken a big game. They're saying finals or bust, really. Finals is a pass mark.
“He (Hardwick) said the floor on our ceiling is finals and the ceiling is untapped. So, the floor is finals, the ceiling is, who knows?
“When Damien Hardwick was appointed, the chairman, Bob East says, ‘right, we're ready to go, it is finals, this is a finals team’.
“You’ve sacked a coach (Stuart Dew), you’ve hired a three-time (premiership coach) Damien Hardwick on huge money for five years, you've got a stacked playing list, you've never played finals before in your history, and he (East) is saying it's finals or bust.
“Then the coach has said it. Hardwick's been speaking a big game through the pre-season, and we're not reacting to pre-season results, but there are some concerns there.”
Co-host King does not hold the same concerns despite the Suns looking below their best at Manuka Oval.
He asked Cornes specifically what he is worried about when it comes to Gold Coast’s game style.
King replied: “No concerns. Why is there?
“What's one concern you’ve got?”
Cornes feels a lack of overall desire plagued the Suns, referencing their numbers compared to those of the Giants.
“They got beaten by about 50 in contested footy last night,” he answered.
“They conceded 30 more entries. They went inside 40 times. They're not giving their forwards a chance.
“The players are laconic, they play with no energy. There's no real desire apart from Touk Miller and Matt Rowell.
“This is a history, this has been going on for a while, this isn't just a practice game.
“This is the team that has underperformed, has never played finals, they've now got a good coach and a very good playing list with a lot of talent, and they're speaking a big game, and I'm not seeing any full-on desire to match the words this pre-season.”
King doubled down on his desire not to get carried away after a practice match defeat.
He cites what Adam Kingsley was able to achieve in his first season as Giants coach, leading them to the Preliminary Final after they started the 2023 season poorly.
“We saw Adam Kingsley go to an equally talented list for the GWS last year,” said King.
“How were they going at the halfway mark?”
Cornes replied: “Ordinary.”
King continued: “Why wouldn't we give Damien the same luxury and just hold your bullets?
“Just wait until they can embed this game plan. It might take two months and then let's reassess.”
But Cornes still questions whether or not means enough to the majority of Suns players.
He added: “Does it mean enough to these guys?
“Do they know what is required and maybe it will take half a year.
“Plus 31 in inside 50s. They win stoppage but don't win clearance, beaten up in contested footy, beaten up in every area you could imagine, and they were poor last week.”
After a pair of pre-season defeats, the Suns will now look to kick off the 2024 season proper with a win against Hardwick’s former club Richmond at home in Opening Round on March 9.
