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After a high-pressure brand of football undid Sydney last weekend, Gold Coast AFL coach Stuart Dew expects his team to go hard again against Collingwood.
After bringing a high-pressure brand of football that Sydney couldn't live with last weekend, Gold Coast Stuart Dew is challenging his players to turn up the heat against Collingwood.
The Suns stunned the high-flying Swans at Metricon Stadium last Saturday, swarming in packs around the footy to surge to a much-needed 40-point AFL win.
It's a style of game Dew is urging his team to deliver at the MCG against a struggling Magpies team which has slipped to 17th with just one win from six matches in 2021.
"They're number one for contested possession percentage so that's their game, that's what they pride themselves on," Dew said.
"You've only got to listen to Nathan (Buckley, Collingwood coach) in his media, that's what he talks about and we'll expect nothing less on the weekend."
Collingwood's disappointing start to the season will give Gold Coast hope of a rare successful day at the home of football.
The Suns have played 14 matches at the MCG in their history, winning just three of those games.
Both encounters with the Magpies at the venue have ended in defeat, including a 69-point loss on their last visit to the ground in August 2019.
After his team rebounded from a disappointing effort against the Western Bulldogs to beat the Swans, Dew is also well aware the Magpies will be a desperate opponent given the focus that is on them.
"I don't think it affects anything," he said
"It was the same way for us, we just went about our business last week when we were under similar sort of heat.
"Get it right on the track and take that into the weekend."
The Suns are unlikely to rush Zac Smith back into their lineup despite the ruckman making a return in the club's VFL team last weekend from his knee injury.
That will mean inexperienced duo Chris Burgess and Caleb Graham will share the ruck duties against Magpies' star Brodie Grundy.
The Magpies will also hand an AFL debut to midfielder Caleb Poulter after his impressive form in the VFL.
