HONESTY is in short supply at the Suns.

The truth may hurt, but as the T-shirt says, it can also set you free.

Imagine what could be achieved if the players were prepared to deliver some home truths to each other.

It is too late now, but the crisis flag would not be flying from the Metricon Stadium roof if the administration had been more transparent with the media — and therefore their fans.

Chairman John Witheriff was roundly derided for his performance in the press conference where the sacking of former coach Guy McKenna was announced because he refused to outline the reasons why.

At the time I was supportive of Witheriff’s stance. I admired the fact he was not prepared to trash the reputation of one of his close friends.

What some saw as the worst day of his chairmanship, I viewed as his finest hour.

Sacking a friend must surely be one of the hardest things a chairman or CEO or coach can do but he did it because he was convinced it was the right move for the club.

But the lack of transparency has created a PR nightmare for his footy club and handballed new coach Rodney Eade a hospital pass.

McKenna wasn’t sacked on a whim. The review into the football department clearly identified some serious problems with the way the playing list was being developed.

But the vague message about needing someone to take them to the next level was a major cover-up of just how bad things were.

It convinced many of us the players just needed a bit of direction and they would storm into the eight this year.

I’m still bullish about their talent but there are major queries over their temperament.

The players have been pampered for so long they expect everything is going to just happen for them.

They don’t want to listen and they refuse to work hard.

It is going to take Rocket a while to crack their comfort zone.

And that is why they must learn to be accountable to each other. At the moment they are playing selfish football without consequences.

The Suns were in a unique situation when they started in 2011.

Almost their entire playing list were teenagers, predominantly introverts, and they all came from interstate.

It was critical to make them feel at home and keep them happy because every other club in the competition was circling.

They were wrapped in a cocoon of tolerance. They lived with each other. No one rocked the boat.

Five years on and they are a footy side that appears incapable of honest self-assessment and does not cope with constructive criticism.

They aren’t even honest with each other.

The great strength of sides like Hawthorn and Sydney is the standards they demand of each other.

Every player at the Suns should be filthy with how their mates are playing — most should be disgusted with themselves too. But I’m not seeing it.