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\u201cIt\u2019s definitely been difficult, but I honestly believe that the way our club\u2019s been building over time, that we\u2019ve actually got a really strong culture going on,\u201d Miller began by telling AFL 360.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s probably hard to see that outside the four walls, but we\u2019ve been as connected as a club. The losses definitely hurt and are making things a lot harder than they need to be, but sometimes when you\u2019re on your knees a bit, it makes it a lot easier to bring yourself together.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we\u2019re doing a good job of that inside the four walls.\u201d<\/p>\n
While defending the club\u2019s culture, Miller conceded the Suns had drifted away from the brand of football that had underpinned their rise earlier this season under three-time premiership coach Damien Hardwick.<\/p>\n
The 30-year-old admitted Gold Coast has lost its identity this season, pointing to its inability to consistently compete at the contest and defend as the key reasons behind the club\u2019s dramatic slide.<\/p>\n
Petracca and Lombard friends again | 01:38<\/p>\n
\u201cI dare say we\u2019ve tried not to leave any stone unturned at the moment. It\u2019s clearly not the position we want to be in; we understand that the way that we\u2019re playing … you\u2019re judged on win-loss, and ours has been really poor for nine games in a row,\u201d Miller said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI dare say it\u2019s not one thing at the moment. The best thing that we can do, and what we\u2019ve been trying to double-down on, is building an identity. I think we\u2019ve lost that this year.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s pretty evident we haven\u2019t been playing a strong brand of football. Footy\u2019s won and lost in the contest and defensively, and we\u2019ve been really poor in that … if we can continue to build that going into these last four games, I think we can really shape what it looks like in the future. <\/p>\n
\u201cBut, at the moment, we\u2019re not playing at the level we need to be.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last October, the Suns welcomed 2021 Norm Smith Medallist Christian Petracca to the fold from Melbourne, alongside the likes of Academy product Zeke Uwland, Dylan Patterson, Jai Murray and Beau Addinsall, among others. <\/p>\n
After beginning their season with a stunning 56-point win over Geelong in Opening Round, Hardwick\u2019s side burst out to a 3-0 start that led many to believe they were a genuine premiership contender \u2014 if not the favourite. <\/p>\n
Petracca update after Lombard incident | 01:34<\/p>\n
However, reports of disconnect have continued to build traction, leading to accusations of selfishness and friction within the group.<\/p>\n
\u201cI definitely am (confident we\u2019re selfless). Sometimes people are quick to forget that relationships take time. This group specifically has only been together for 10 months \u2014 and we have got a lot of young players that are finding their own way with football as well. But, that\u2019s on us leaders to make sure that we\u2019re guiding them in the right direction,\u201d Miller added.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re doing a really strong job at trying to mare sure our relationships are strong behind the four walls \u2014 and that\u2019s not just player-to-player, that\u2019s coach-to-player.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re well aware that if we want to take this club forward, it requires us to have trust in each other \u2014 and that starts with building really strong relationships .. I think at the moment it\u2019s just a matter of building it from week-to-week.\u201d<\/p>\n