LAST week was a big week for the Gold Coast Suns. They lost their best player and captain, and then lost by nearly 100 points days later.

Despite enduring yet another patch of pain, young gun Touk Miller believes the events of the past week were the line in the sand moment the club needs to emerge from a bleak first eight years of existence.

Miller was one of the players who stood up and made his feelings known in a meeting about Tom Lynch’s decision to meet with other clubs while still the Suns’ skipper. They didn’t like the look and timing of it and they let him know.

With no Lynch, Steven May, David Swallow or Jack Martin, Stuart Dew’s undermanned Suns were completely outplayed by Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday, making a bad week even worse.

Finals Week 1

“What we got out of the week was a bit of club unity and where we want to go as a club. There was a lot of feedback and a lot of circling in the media about what was said,” Miller told foxsports.com.au after Melbourne handed the Suns a 96-point hiding on Sunday.

“The end result is the leadership group spoke on behalf of the players and we were all united in the decision and really strong about it. And the players backed us up.

“I think from a club perspective it has been really good for us moving forward drawing a line in the sand. I think from a leadership view we need to start to push those types of actions when they arise and be really strong.

“It is the only way we are going to get better as a club. I thought that’s exactly what it was; it was us going forward; it was us being strong; it was a good result.”

Tom Lynch speaks at a huddle in Tasmania earlier this season. Source: Getty Images

Many can understand Lynch’s decision to return to his home state after eight years of service at the Suns.

After all, it isn’t a financially motivated decision. And he isn’t the only one to flee Metricon Stadium.

Gary Ablett, Dion Prestia, Josh Caddy, Adam Saad and Brandon Matera have all moved home, while Charlie Dixon and Jaeger O’Meara made the best decision for their careers.

While Miller is a product of the Calder Cannons football factory in Melbourne’s inner west, the 22-year-old is settled in Queensland and confident the Suns are on the right path.

“It’s a weird one, because I find inside the four walls I’ve never doubted the club and where we are going,” he said.

“It has changed a lot since I first got there to now. There is just something about it that makes me want to stay at the club and keeps me coming back. There are some really good people inside the club with Mark Evans and Stuart Dew leading the way.”

Touk Miller flicks out a handball in Sunday’s big loss to Melbourne at the MCG. Source: AAP

After finishing fourth in the best and fairest in his debut season, 7th in 2016 and 8th last year, Miller is one of the leading contenders to win the whole thing this year, along with Swallow, Jarrod Harbrow and Lachie Weller.

He might be out of sight and out of mind, tucked away up north, but Miller has the potential to become an A-grade midfielder in the coming years.

“That’s what I’m hoping. I’m trying to work as hard as I can to get to that point. Everyone wants to be the best player they can be. For me, I really want to be that A+ midfielder,” he said after collecting 25 disposals and seven tackles at the MCG.

“It takes hard work, dedication, spending time on my craft, watching the best, which is what I’m trying to do. I’ve still got a long way to go.

“Being out of sight, out of mind isn’t the worst thing in the world; there isn’t a lot of media pressure on you.”