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Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew is challenging his players to meet the standard set in their AFL win over Sydney every week, starting against Collingwood.
Last weekend's impressive AFL victory over Sydney has set the standard, now Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew wants his players to hit those heights week-in, week-out.
The Suns rebounded from their humbling defeat to the Western Bulldogs with a high-pressure, high-intensity display against the Swans which led to a 40-point win at Metricon Stadium.
Dew has allowed his players to soak up their success over the Anzac Day long weekend, but says the focus must now be on showing that is how the Suns will play consistently, not just a one-off.
"The message to the players and everyone else was that we showed our hand, that we're capable of it," Dew said.
"We need to get to that challenge right and make sure that we get up again.
"We've got to recognise there's always another opposition over the other side of the fence trying to do the same thing, so it's never always going to be on your terms, but how much of the game can you get on your terms is what we're striving for."
After coming through his VFL return without any hiccups, ruckman Zac Smith is pushing for selection having spent the entire season sidelined with a knee injury.
Dew however appears unlikely to rush the 31-year-old straight back in to the AFL, particularly against Magpies' big man Brodie Grundy, given Smith will need to be a long-term option with co-captain Jarrod Witts out for the season due to his ACL rupture suffered against Adelaide in round three.
"We've got to set Zac up for a confident year and we don't want to rush that decision," Dew said.
"We do need to consider the bigger picture.
"We also feel that that Chris (Burgess) and Caleb (Graham) have competed well in that area and our mids have stepped up. We're confident that if we think that Zac needs another one that they'll do the job.
"We're really keen to bring Smithy in when he's confident in his knee. He hasn't played AFL footy for a number of years so it's going to be a consideration."
