Although having the same number of scoring shots (24), winning the clearances (41-38) and being close in overall disposals (384-355) and contested possessions (139-130), the Suns lost by 35 points and never looked like winning at Metricon Stadium.

 

The home side missed a number of gettable goals in the first quarter – including two difficult shots by Harley Bennell, a long shot by Trent McKenzie, and an easy one by Brandon Matera – to kick away any chance of keeping in touch.

 

But McKenna said it was the Swans' pressure that caused his side problems.

 

"Credit to Sydney, they just apply that blowtorch pressure," McKenna said.

 

"That was what made us succumb. There were certainly gettable goals, and some non-pressured errors too.

 

"That's the biggest area we need to work on.

 

"The way some of our boys train and put that amount of pressure on, as good as they are, you can't manufacture that until you go out and play sides like Sydney.

 

"Our ability to not find targets and hit the scoreboard … was largely due to Sydney's pressure, which is fantastic for us."

 

McKenna was so pleased with his own team's pressure he said a similar performance in last week's loss to Adelaide could have reversed that result.

 

Gold Coast (7-4) is still in the top eight despite losing its past two games but McKenna said Sunday's loss was another step forward.

 

"We might have stubbed our toe, we didn't trip, we didn't fall, we're moving forward," he said.

 

Karmichael Hunt, playing his first game for 2014, finished with eight disposals and two tackles in a largely midfield role.

 

McKenna did not guarantee his place against West Coast next week but said he was pleased with the 27-year-old's comeback game.

 

"Al the things we picked him for, he did really well,” McKenna said.

 

"(He) spent some time over the ball, a few of their lads will be a bit sorer tomorrow than if other players had played.

 

"He certainly provided what we needed, that's for sure."

 

Twitter: @AFL_mikewhiting