Suns focussed on fixing own game
Gold Coast have focussed on improving their own game ahead of analysing the Western Bulldogs for Saturday's AFL clash at Etihad stadium, says Suns' small forward Brandon Matera.
After a crushing 119-point loss to Carlton in the newcomers' first AFL match, Matera said coaching had been about remedial lessons and working to improve their clearance rate at stoppages and understanding each other's strengths and weaknesses.
"We've really talked about our game," Matera told AAP.
"...what we want to do and play to and we need to play the games on our terms.
"We haven't looked at them (the Bulldogs) much this week, we've looked at getting our structures right.
"We have to stop their run through the midfield and out wide. If we get our hands on it first we should be right."
Matera, along with midfielder David Swallow, ruckman Zac Smith and key forward Charlie Dixon, performed well enough against the Blues to indicate they have outstanding futures with the Suns.
Matera, the son of former West Coast and Fitzroy small forward Wally, said fans and critics should wait for the first six rounds or so before casting judgement on the Suns.
The 19-year-old said the Blues' clash was his, and most of his teammates', first game playing alongside Brownlow medallist Gary Ablett and former Lions utility Jared Brennan, just to name a few.
"No one really knew what to expect from the first game so by round six or seven we should be right and that's when you could start judging us," Matera explained.
"Everyone is still young, learning about each other and don't know what to expect.
"Once we all gel together we'll start playing better football together and once we get enough games under our belt and some experience, we will know what to expect from each other as well."
Last weekend father Wally was in the crowd and offered advice after the match.
On Saturday Matera's well-known uncle Philip Matera, who was an All-Australian in 2003 and played 179 matches for West Coast, will be sitting in the stands.
"Uncle Phil's going to come along and hopefully I'll catch up with him after the game," Matera said.
"I've only really spoken to Dad after the game and he told me what I had to work on."
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