CULTURAL issues have underpinned Gold Coast's struggles for years and led to the shedding of talented but controversial players Harley Bennell and Charlie Dixon in October.

But speaking to the club's website, coach Rodney Eade said the playing group had begun to "drive" training and behavioural standards at the club – critical to success in any sport.

An horrific injury toll also severely limited the Suns' output in 2015 but off-field indiscretions didn't help matters either.

Eade believed such incidents could help sculpt the club's future in a positive fashion.

"A fair bit's changed … we made really good traction I believe about halfway through last year," Eade said.

"The players really could see that there was consistency in what the expectations were.

"Obviously there are some players that aren't here anymore that, standards-wise, were a bit up and down.

"But there's really a buy-in now, the players are driving it a lot more – we've still got a bit of education to go there with our leadership program.

"The work we did in 2015 you can see that they've set a good base for us going forward."

Dion Prestia is one of the young Suns thrust into a leadership role. Picture: AFL Media