Cheeky Gold Coast forward Brandon Matera's AFL Rising Star nomination is further proof the talent pool at the Suns should be measured in fathoms and not metres.

It could easily have been expected that No.1 draft pick David Swallow to be the first Suns' player to earn the the kudos as one of the best rookies on the scene.

But Matera, who was claimed by the Suns as a 17-year-old access pick, eclipsed his more high-profile teammate with a stunning four goal, 21 disposal performance against Port Adelaide in the fledgling club's first ever AFL win.

Matera's success is not all that surprising given his bloodlines.

His father Wally played 24 matches for West Coast and 32 for Fitzroy, while his uncles Peter (five-time All-Australian, club champion and two-time premiership player) and Phil (an All-Australian and five time club leading goalkicker) played more than 400 matches for the Eagles.

The 19-year-old is very close to his father and they regularly exchange friendly banter comparing one elapsed career to one about to take off.

"Dad said after the game, 'you're in for a chance (for the Rising Star)," Brandon Matera said.

"I've got one in front of him early on.

"He called me on Sunday morning and said he realised in his first win he kicked four goals and in my first win I kicked four, so we're the exact same and I said you can have that one then."

As much as Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna wants his players to focus on the next assignment against Essendon at Etihad Stadium on Sunday, the Rising Star nomination allows Matera a few extra minutes to bask in the historic win over the Power.

The Bombers will be their biggest test to date and many of their younger players will be confronting back-to-back travel for only the first or second time in their careers.

The Suns had consecutive road trips during the NAB Cup with trips to Sydney (win) and Perth (loss).

"We have to travel two weeks in a row, that's probablythe hardest thing for the boys, it's getting up for that," Matera said.

"We didn't travel much last year, especially not two weeks in a row so this is going to be a challenge for us.

"It didn't worry me (going to Perth) as I got to go home, I was pretty happy about that, but a few of the other boys didn't like the big travel straight up."

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