They’re Gold Coast’s closest AFL rivals in terms of experience and Suns’ coach Guy McKenna feels he’s outpointing Kevin Sheedy’s Greater Western Sydney in the battle of the expansion clubs.
The Suns are hoping to secure an eighth win of their campaign when they host the Giants at Metricon on Sunday, far and above anything GWS have been able to achieve in their two seasons in the competition.
While the Suns are in their third year as an AFL team, their record in their second campaign last year also outdid what the Giants have been able to achieve in 2013.
Whereas Sheedy’s men have just one win going into Sunday’s clash, the Suns managed three victories in 2012 and McKenna believes that shows the Suns are proving more of a success on the field than the Giants.
“Look at the Giants and their record in their second year and you look at what our players delivered in their second year and now our third year, you can make those comparisons. But one thing that stands out for me is our percentage is better; we’ve won more quarters than them; we’ve won more games than them,” McKenna said.
“Compare lists. Compare coaching groups. Not one of our coaches have yet won a premiership. Kevin has won four and he had (Mark) Chocko Williams who has won one.
“Compare that – I think we’ve done a very good job. We’ve made some gains.”
Despite their confidence and favouritism, the Suns are wary of a Giants ambush in the Father’s Day match-up.
The visitors will be keen to send Sheedy out a winner in the last match of his remarkable coaching career and have a key forward in Jeremy Cameron who has kicked more goals this season than the Suns’ key forwards combined.
The Suns are also coming off their worst performance of the year against St Kilda last week and McKenna admits the club are limping, rather than sprinting, to the finish line.
“I have no doubt, like GWS, if it’s out of 10 for the fittest and freshest, GWS is a two out of 10. We’d be a three or four out of 10,” he said.
“The competition is ahead of us because of their age, their games and maturation, clearly.
“We’re 12 months ahead of them, more advanced and that’s where we’re at. Does that mean you win a game of football against them? No, but it probably helps.”