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Gold Coast defender Sam Collins says the Suns rediscovering their fighting spirit in the second-half of their AFL loss to West Coast is a crucial step.
It went missing for a few weeks but Gold Coast defender Sam Collins is hopeful the Suns have rediscovered their fighting spirit.
The Suns, coming off heavy AFL losses to Adelaide and Brisbane, were in danger of a third-straight pummelling against West Coast in Perth.
Trailing by 39 points at halftime at Optus Stadium, the Suns rallied with five unanswered goals either side of three-quarter time to close within 11 points late in the fourth quarter.
While the Eagles rallied to close out a 23-point victory, Collins said the final two quarters against the premiers was reflective of the style which led the Suns to three wins in their opening four rounds in 2019.
"The last couple of weeks we stepped away in the pressure aspect, not deliberately by any means, but it just wasn't there to the level that it was," Collins told AAP.
"That's what made us a competitive side.
"It's really pleasing that we found that two-quarter patch because we really needed it. It's just really important that we build on it."
Part of the Suns' early season form was built on a solid defence, with ex-Docker Collins slotting in nicely alongside experienced duo Jarrod Harbrow and Pearce Hanley in the backline.
With Melbourne heading to Metricon Stadium this Saturday aiming to build on their gutsy win over Hawthorn last weekend, Collins knows how important keeping that pressure and intensity will be against the Demons.
"The last couple of weeks we've probably been off our game a little bit and we don't want to be a fairweather defence, we want to be a great defence every week no matter what's going on up the field or what the scoreboard is," he said.
"Those first few weeks we brought a real hunger and desire for the contest and the pressure up the field was enormous.
"That's what our game is built on.
"If we get the pressure up the field it really helps us play better football, at the same time we want to be pretty resilient and have enough tools in our bag that when it's not there we're able to shut them down."
