Gold Coast co-captain David Swallow will return from suspension. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

"OUR TIME is now."

Those four words sum up the significant shift perennial struggler Gold Coast made towards embracing a winning culture at the start of this pre-season, coach Stuart Dew says.

ROUNDS 2-5 Check out the full fixture

Reinforced with the best two kids in last year's draft class, best mates Matthew Rowell and Noah Anderson, and senior recruits Brandon Ellis and Hugh Greenwood, the Suns established a new mindset.

There was a slip-up in round one against Port Adelaide after a promising pre-season but Saturday night's shock defeat over West Coast has caught the AFL community's attention.

ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS

  • 00:29

    WATCH: McGovern's strike on Sexton

    West Coast defender Jeremy McGovern has been charged by the MRO after striking Gold Coast forward Alex Sexton

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  • 05:35

    Highlights: Gold Coast v West Coast

    The Suns and Eagles clash in round two

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  • 00:36

    Ainsworth double sinks the Eagles

    Ben Ainsworth kicks two goals to heap more pain on the Eagles

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  • 00:46

    Sexton on report for head high bump

    Alex Sexton reported for high bump on Jeremy McGovern

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  • 00:47

    Suns having a Day out

    Sam Day extends the Suns lead

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  • 00:47

    All class from the number one pick

    Matt Rowell slots his first career goal

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  • 00:34

    Anderson aces his first in the big league

    Gold Coast recruit Noah Anderson kicks his first goal in the AFL

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  • 00:33

    Shuey slippers through Eagles first

    Luke Shuey kicks straight for West Coast's first goal

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  • 01:10

    Match Preview: Gold Coast v West Coast

    Nathan Brown and Matthew Richardson preview the Gold Coast v West Coast clash at Metricon Stadium

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There are now greater hopes attached to what retooled Gold Coast can achieve in 2020 but Dew said they were just as buoyant internally.

"We've probably shifted that expectation in-house as well across this whole summer, in terms of our time is now," he said.

"We're more than capable. We're not here just to compete and do the fluffy stuff; we're here to win and get four points like every other team.

"I think the fact we've shifted that dialogue internally just marries up with external, so I think we've been on the front foot with that and we think we can handle the external stuff as well.

"We're really confident in the group we've got and the decisions the whole of club have made and I think it started way back in November."

00:54

Match Preview: Gold Coast v Adelaide

Sportsbet's Nathan Brown and Matthew Richardson preview the clash between the Suns and Crows at Metricon Stadium

At the same time, Dew – in his third season at the helm – has warned his players to "reset" for Adelaide on Sunday "because last week is well and truly done".

Star midfielder David Swallow will return from his one-game suspension, while the coach was confident Ellis (calf) would also be fit to reclaim his spot in the side.

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"Obviously our co-captain Dave will come back in and we expect Brandon to be OK as well," Dew said.

"There are going to be two unlucky guys but that's the position we need to be in to keep the heat on.

"The players understand how important it is for good clubs to have that and we've been working for that and need to maintain it for the whole year."

Crows coach Matthew Nicks earlier in the day highlighted Rowell's stunning weekend performance but Dew believed the gun teenager would take a potential tag in his stride.

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