GOLD Coast coach Stuart Dew is putting the heat on key midfielder Aaron Hall, demanding he lift his work rate to an AFL standard after being tagged out of the loss to Fremantle by rookie Bailey Banfield.
Hall had just five disposals against the Dockers – the third lowest tally in his career – but the Suns are likely to back him to respond against West Coast.
However, Dew demanded harder running and intensity around the contest from the 27-year-old in his 100th game at Optus Stadium on Saturday night.
"Hally's been tagged before. He had a really poor game, he's the first to admit that," Dew said at Fremantle Oval.
"There's two parts to it. Our guys can help him, but also his workrate has got to lift and get up to an AFL level.
"He was disappointing on the weekend and we're looking for him to bounce back.
"We'll probably err on the side of backing him in to respond. He's a senior player.
"We're all aware he had a poor game, but he won't be the last one to have a poor game. We're looking for a response.
"I don't think he worked hard enough in the game, simple as that. That's in all facets."
WATCH: Hall put down behind play
The Suns will have at least one change after rebounder Pearce Hanley dislocated his shoulder in his comeback game.
Hanley may need surgery and is bracing for a significant spell on the sidelines.
"Shoulders, generally, it could be 10 (weeks) to the rest of the season, so once the shoulder settles down and we get a good picture on it and the surgeon sees it we'll have some news," Dew said.
Promising Cairns product Jack Bowes will return from suspension and could go back to help replace Hanley, while Max Spencer is also in the mix for his sixth career appearance.
Dew declared the Suns would try to be more aggressive with their ball movement against the Eagles after failing to "ask enough questions" of Fremantle and not giving star forward Tom Lynch (one goal) enough chances against Alex Pearce.
"We certainly think he contributed, but we contributed to his lack of influence on the game by moving the ball too slow," Dew said of Lynch.
Combating Nic Naitanui in the ruck looms as a major challenge for Jarrod Witts, although he competed hard against giant Aaron Sandilands.
"Obviously he's (Naitanui) a quality player and he can hit it 360 (degrees)," Dew said.
"It's about not just Wittsy getting his body in there and trying to get his hands on it.
"But the three in the centre circle have got a fair bit of responsibility.
"You've really got to be watching the hand and where the bounce goes.
"It's a bit like cricket, if you premeditate hitting it over the bowler's head and they drop it in short, you're in a bit of trouble.
"We just like our players to play it on its merits."
Dew insisted it had been business as usual for the Suns this week, despite staying over in Perth after selling a 'home' game to the Dockers last round.
