EXPECT some "spice" on Saturday when Tom Lynch returns to Metricon Stadium for the first time since leaving Gold Coast.
Suns vice-captain Touk Miller says he doesn't hold a grudge against Lynch for departing via free agency, but admitted his return would spark "a bit more passion" when they host Richmond.
"He was a captain of our club and he moved on," Miller told AFL.com.au.
Tom Lynch has settled in well at Richmond. Picture: AFL Photos
"No-one's going to shy away from the fact that what's happened has happened.
"It adds a bit of spice I guess.
"It was no different to when Jaeger (O'Meara) left, ‘Maysie’ (Steven May) was the same, it just adds a bit more passion to the game.
"It'll make it interesting."
BARRETT The 'Any Given Sunday' era has finally arrived
After O'Meara left the Suns at the end of 2016, he returned with Hawthorn early the following season and was on the end of a belting from the Suns.
May hasn't played his former club yet.
Lynch had a fantastic eight-year career at Carrara, playing 131 games and kicking a club record 254 goals before deciding to head back to his home state of Victoria.
Miller and Lynch were teammates for four years. Picture: AFL Photos
"I've got no ill feelings," Miller said.
"Football is a business. People make decisions and I hold nothing against him.
"More passion in the game, give you more reason to have a crack at him, but you never hold grudges on someone for things like that."
While Lynch returning adds a different element to the game, Miller says Gold Coast has bigger things to concern themselves with.
Following a seven-goal loss to Sydney at the weekend, the Suns have lost 10 games straight and now sit on the bottom of the ladder.
While they've been largely competitive in most games, this year is starting to follow a familiar pattern.
"No-one's happy losing 10 straight, but you can't lose belief," Miller said.
"That's the key word, belief - belief will win you games.
"The perfect example was Carlton (beating Fremantle) on the weekend.
"Talent only separates one or two percent between every team because everyone's got it, I think it's just who believes they can actually win the game.
"If we start to drop our confidence, we'll probably get rolled.
"I don't think we've shown the AFL what we can do yet.
"The full four quarters should be expected for every team, but especially us. We have enough senior bodies that have played enough footy to see out a full game."
Find In the Game on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or Spotify
Miller said despite the struggles to win, the atmosphere felt different to previous years.
"It's not the end of the world, but we know we could have won more and been in some games longer," he said.
"Now we have to learn how to win those games, to take us from 18th closer to finals contention.
"I think the brand of footy we're playing and the trust we're building is growing from last year to this year."
