Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna has told his improving AFL team it’s okay to dare to dream about making the finals this year.
The Suns head into Saturday’s home match against the Western Bulldogs one win outside the top eight after their Mother’s Day victory over struggling Melbourne.
And while the season is not even a third completed, McKenna said the chance to claim back-to-back wins for the first time in the club’s history against the 16th-placed Bulldogs is an exciting one.
“It’s okay to think like that. It’s okay to think about two in a row,” McKenna said.
“The pressure and expectations continue to build, like they should build when you start to win games of football.
“That’s fine to think about it but you’ve got to understand what gets you in that position – it’s the process.
“Dreaming about it is not going to allow you to play like that. You’ve actually got to go out and physically do that.”
The Suns’ jubilation over their impressive hammering of the Demons at the MCG was tempered by reports Nathan Bock is under investigation by the Australian Anti-Doping Sports Authority (ASADA).
Bock, recovering from a broken leg, is allegedly under investigation for using a prohibited drug in 2010.
McKenna said apart from the former Adelaide player, there’s no reason the investigation should affect anyone else at the club.
“The players understand where we sit,” McKenna said.
“There’s nothing they can say or do that’s going to change outcomes of that investigation apart from Nathan himself.
“He’s the only person that will have to spend some time facing those questions. We’re very comfortable with what’s going to come out of that, comfortable with the investigation.”
On the field, McKenna says Jared Brennan should be okay to play the Bulldogs after his head knock against Melbourne but Tom Murphy is still suffering the affects of a concussion and will not play.
The Dogs, with just one win so far this year, have made four changes following their loss to North Melbourne last weekend with Jake Stringer, Jackson Macrae, Brett Goodes and Koby Stevens coming in.
McKenna says he expects a tough match despite the Dogs’ lowly status.
“We understand we’re going to have our hands full this week,” he said.
“It’s going to be a tussle throughout the course of the match.”