Gold Suns forget 2011 slaughter against Essendon from their memories Gold Coast players leave the field after their 139-point belting at the hands of Essendon in 2011. GOLD Coast coach Guy McKenna says he has not revisited the "nightmares" from the 139-point loss to Essendon at Etihad Stadium in 2011 ahead of tomorrow's re-match. Essendon piled on a record 94 points in the first quarter of the Round 6 clash at Etihad Stadium in the Gold Coast's first season in 2011. But the Suns will pose a far greater threat to the Bombers in 2013 after eye-catching form in the past five weeks that has seen McKenna's men to climb to within a win of the top eight. McKenna said he had tried to erase any memories of the slaughter at the hands of the Bombers. I can't remember that, for some reason. I remember after quarter-time I thought it was half reasonable," McKenna said. I don't know how you get motivated by nightmares. The side's changed, personnel has changed. A fair amount of growth and development has happened since then so we're not focussed on that. The relative form of Essendon this year and ours is what we have to focus on. I think the boys are looking for the challenge. Clearly Hawthorn and Geelong are heavyweight sides and North are pushing up into that bracket, so it was a great examination (last week) and we passed that test. We've got another big test against a side that sits 8-3. We play at Etihad where we haven't won before. We've passed a few milestones this year and this is another big examination and we want to pass the test. McKenna said the Bombers deserved a lot of credit for playing good football amidst the ASADA drugs in sport crisis that has engulfed the club. You've got to take your hat off to them, to have that grey cloud hanging over their head and for them to deliver on the performances they have this season is quite remarkable. I think that says a lot about their ability to put their hand up and say they're a legitimate top four side," he said. The resilience in that group is up there with a side like Sydney and that's a great test for us. We have to play four consistent quarters of hard, tough footy and we know if we play three, Essendon will play four and beat us. McKenna disagreed with coaching mentor Mick Malthouse who said this week that the Gold Coast should lock him into a long-term deal. The short answer is no. We're in a vein of form, playing some good football, but I think the club went above and beyond what they did for me last year, which was a great sign of faith. Behind the scenes that was the message I was telling them, that in time these boys would grow into men and that's happening," he said. McKenna did not confirm or deny that the Suns would be interested in off-contract Hawthorn star Lance Franklin. It is understood the Gold Coast is unlikely to bid for Franklin. From week to week and month to month your side and your list evolves. We'll sit down, as we do, in a month's time with Scott (Clayton - Suns list manager), and assess how we've come through the first half of the season. We'll meet on Monday as well, while it's fresh in our minds. We'll talk about our list, we'll talk about who's available and at the end of the season we'll start getting busy," he said. We're not going to make public comment on every player or every name that comes up. All those names are all on a list, like every club, and we'll analyse the pros and cons of bringing that player to our football club.