Gold Coast Suns coach Damien Hardwick says their nine-game losing streak could prove the “most important in our club’s history”.

Watch every match of every round of the AFL Premiership Season LIVE and ad-break free during play on FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.

Carlton worsened the Suns’ free-fall on Saturday afternoon at Marvel Stadium, storming home to win by 13 points.

WHAT’S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.

Hardwick says the Suns must stay resilient, citing his experiences of dark periods preceding patches of success.

“One thing I will say, I’ve been around footy a long time, the spirit and the drive of this group is as strong as ever,” Hardwick said.

“Noah (Anderson) and his crew have done an incredible job with that, the easy thing for any side I reckon in our situation to lose nine games in a row would be drop their bundle – they don’t do that.

“It’s a credit to Noah and Rowelly and those types of players, sitting there and still trying their absolute hardest to get us to a win.

“It’s important for our fans, it’s important for our players. These nine games might be the most important in our club’s history.

“People sit there and go, ‘What are you talking about?’ Well, I’ve been in situations before where situations like this have occurred.

“And you get your greatest growth from your darkest times, so we’re learning things along the way and at the end of the day, success isn’t linear, but it might be the thing that actually sparks us (into) something pretty special.”

‘F*** YOU’: Suns pair’s fiery exchange exposed as great questions ‘severe’ act

Petracca gives Lombard huge spray! | 00:54

The obvious link is Hardwick’s 2016 season at Richmond, when he survived a performance review before leading the Tigers to three of the next four premierships.

But Hardwick says there are many more examples around the world the Suns can draw on for inspiration.

“I can draw a lot of parallels throughout my career but also around world sport, things happen for a reason,” he said.

“For whatever reason we’re not playing as well as we’d like, we’re not where we need to be but we’re not as bad as the record suggests.

“So what we’ve got to do is keep turning, keep getting to work and keep believing in what we’re doing and more importantly keep pushing that barrow up the hill.”