THE PENNY is starting to drop for Gold Coast's young players, who are beginning to realise the type of consistent effort and intensity required to compete at AFL level, coach Rodney Eade says.
The Suns lost their third straight game of the season, falling to a wounded Geelong by nine points in a thrilling contest at Simonds Stadium on Sunday.
But unlike the limp losses to Melbourne and St Kilda, Eade saw some signs of fight against the Cats, with his young players not relying solely on talent and potential.
"I've spoken to a lot of them about it," Eade said after the loss.
"They think life's just going to roll along and life's linear and football's linear and we'll build, but it's just not like that.
"There's a lot of premiership teams that don't make the finals the next year. We've got to be able to build that consistent effort, that consistent manic pressure on the opposition and be able to stick to our disciplined structures.
"It's all about our effort. That's what's needed as a baseline and I think that's what we had today."
In the absence of star midfielder Gary Ablett, acting captain Michael Rischitelli led superbly with 27 disposals and eight clearances.
The Suns' midfield was well on top for the bulk of the contest, but Eade said his side was let down by some errant entries going inside forward 50 and wayward kicking for goal in the second half.
Eade said his young charges were starting to learn to play without Ablett, who has been indefinitely sidelined after experiencing some discomfort in his surgically-repaired left shoulder.
"That's what I'd like to build towards," Eade said.
"You'd certainly love to have him in the side, he's a super player and he's a spiritual leader as well, and that's what we're going to have to do."
Reports suggest Ablett is close to reaching a new three-year deal with the Suns, taking his tenure with the club to the end of 2018 and dispelling any romantic notion that he is set to return to Geelong.
"All along we've said that we're confident that that was going to happen," Eade said.
"There's been a few little crinkles here and there that we've had to iron out but fingers crossed we think it shouldn't be too far away."
Eade also praised the efforts of young leaders Tom Lynch and Trent McKenzie, who put in excellent showings against the Cats.
Lynch's aggression was telling and he finished with three goals, 19 touches, seven inside 50s and six marks.
"He was really fantastic. He's a great competitor, Tom, and a really good leader. You'd like to think with Charlie (Dixon) coming back in the next week or two, that's only going to support him a bit more.
"But I thought he was fantastic today."
McKenzie, who was dropped to the NEAFL after a dismal showing against Melbourne in round one, also responded in kind.
He played a pivotal role on Steve Johnson, limiting the Cats' dangerman to 19 disposals at an efficiency rating of 57.9 per cent.
"I've been told that Trent's a very competitive guy and he's got good courage, but just sometimes he tends to get lazy and tends to walk and trot," Eade said.
"He answered that challenge today."
