Losing Steven May and Rory Thompson was the tipping point for Gold Coast in their 67-point loss to the undefeated Adelaide.
The Crows recorded their first-ever 5-0 start to a season with the 23.15 (153) to 13.8 (86) shellacking at Metricon Stadium and Suns coach Rodney Eade says losing May (hamstring) and Thompson (ankle) and the physicality of Adelaide was too much to handle for his young squad.
"The first half especially we got pushed off the ball, we were the first at the contest but our tackles weren't sticking," Eade said.
"Maybe with Maysie and Rory out we just tipped over to being a bit too young."
It was the third loss of the Suns' season. They made just 45 tackles for the match and half of the team recorded one or less.
Eade said a bright spot for Gold Coast was the performance of Adam Saad who was faced the daunting task of marking Eddie Betts.
"I thought his ability to win one-on-ones and keep his feet was exceptional tonight," Eade said.
"That's as good as a game he's played, Betts is probably in the top two small forwards to ever play the game."
Saad finished the game with 24 disposals and three tackles and Eade says he is enjoying the way he plays the game.
"If we were going to make a mistake I'd rather a real positive mistake that you're trying to do something positive," Eade said.
"When Adam got caught holding the ball I said that's fine he was trying to take the game on, sometimes you need to spend a bit to earn a bit.
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