In the space of two weeks, all the buzz and hype about the Gold Coast SUNS has rapidly been replaced with a ferocious blowtorch on the playing group and on their new coach Rodney Eade.



For the former Sydney Swans and Western Bulldogs mentor, this isn’t his first time to the rodeo. A lifetime in the game has taught Eade not be reactive to the hysteria of outside noise.



There is no question the SUNS' opening two performances of his tenure have been lacklustre and underwhelming. And coupled with the loss of emerging star Jaeger O’Meara and the indefinite absence of captain Gary Ablett, the season has quickly turned into something of a nightmare.



Eade’s message was clear and concise when addressing a large media throng on Wednesday morning before Gold Coast’s main training session: the time is now to stand up and be counted.



“I would have thought if you guys get questioned publicly by people or by your bosses tickle your pride, you’re going to do something about it,” Eade told reporters.



“I mean there’s two ways; you can either cower and sook and crawl under a rock or you can stand up.



“The good thing about our game it’s a another chance seven days later and it’s another chance you’ve got control of your actions.

“You’re in control of that. You’re in control of your emotions, no one else controls that. So the opposition can control the way you play a bit, but by the same token your effort and your attitude is really in your control. So I think there would be a response.”



With no Ablett or Jarrod Harbrow available in the immediate future, the experience inside Metricon Stadium has shrunk quite significantly. Only three players, aside from Ablett and Harbrow, who played last weekend have more than 100 games of experience next to their name with Michael Rischitelli, Nick Malceski and Greg Broughton.



A large portion of the SUNS best 22 are comprised of players in their fifth season at the highest level. David Swallow, Dion Prestia, Tom Lynch, Harley Bennell and Steven May headline this group of players Eade identified as who need to step up for their football club.



“Probably this weekend, we’ve got ten or 11 who have played 70 games or more, 60 games or more… so that’s reasonable experience. They’re the ones that have got to stand up,” Eade said.



“So it’s going to be a young side, but those 60 game players or 70 game players haven’t got much experience above them so it’s a big ask. Whether it’s Hawthorn or Fremantle or Geelong, if you’ve played 60, 70 games you’ve still got five or six or eight players who have played 150 games plus.



“So they’re going to have to grow up quickly. That’s a good challenge; I think it’s a good learning curve.



“Defining moment? Critical moment in the club’s career? Well I think every game’s going to be like that. If the baseline of effort, the baseline of putting pressure on opposition is there and they work for each other – win, lose or draw, that’s going to be a really good foundation for us to project forward.”