Suns hoping to surprise Port Adelaide

Posted April 20, 2011 16:00:00

Gold Coast's lame start to its first AFL season could work in its favour against Port Adelaide at Football Park on Saturday, according to young Suns forward Dan Gorringe.

The 18-year-old Gorringe says the Power may be drawn into a false sense of security against the Suns, who have lost their opening three matches by an average of 93 points.

He drew similarities between the Power's playing list and that of the Gold Coast, although the Suns are more reliant on younger players.

"It will be good competition and a test for us against Port Adelaide," Gorringe said.

"If we can catch them off guard and play some good footy early we will go a long way to winning the game.

"The are a lot like us, they are a young list.

"If we get out there and hit them hard, because they won't be expecting big things from us, [we might be able to] catch them off guard early ... this is one we might get a win over."

Many feel the Suns will not win a match in their debut season after choosing to invest heavily in young players and the future rather than recruiting seasoned veterans.

Having such a young list and more than a dozen first year players in the side means the Suns are prone to mistakes and simple turnovers and lack physically mature bodies to handle a full game.

Gorringe admits the Suns' inconsistency has been very costly and they need to string together four solid quarters to seriously challenge for a win.

"[Port Adelaide] are a bit of an up-and-down side and can be a bit like us - inconsistent," Gorringe said.

"Last week was a good chance to get a win but we fell away in the fourth quarter.

"Consistency, being competitive and hard at the ball for four quarters (are the key to winning), being so young it's hard to keep it up for four quarters, so if we can focus on that area I think we can win."

Taken at number 10 in the 2010 national draft, Gorringe will be slightly more familiar with the vast expanses of Football Park, having played at the ground in the under 18 competition and in a final with Norwood.

- AAP

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