One down, 22 to go.

The first eight games of the 2021 AFL season didn't just provide us with our initial set of winners and losers, it raised another series of questions.

With each of the league's 18ย clubsย set to do battle again this weekend, we attempted to answer the major issues facing their playingย listsย andย coachesย alike.

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Gold Coast

Are they content with their competitiveness?

Yet another of the unfancied teams entering Round 1, Gold Coast raised many an eyebrow when the ran the Eagles close in Perth on Sunday.

Although unlike Adelaide, Sydney and Hawthorn, the Suns were unable to seal the deal, despite holding a lead early in the final term.

Following Nick Holman's left footed goal on the run in the final stanza's opening minute, West Coast went on to post five unanswered goals to end the quarter and the contest.

For three-quarters โ€“ and 18 seconds โ€“ Gold Coast remained within touching distance a seasoned team that many expect to return to the finals in 2021. However, with the final margin stretching out to over four goals, can Stuart Dew be happy with his side clocking off early again?

For a club that is yet to play finals in this their 11th season at AFL level, are the Suns still content just building under Dew or should they, as well as we, expect them to start snatching some of these games that they are in up to their eyeballs?

Since taking over the reigns of the club before the 2018 season, Dew has accrued a 12-1-49 record in his time as the club's fourth coach. This may seem dismal on paper, but with his tutelage allowing his youthful group to progress beyond beltings each week, ground is being made in the Surfer's Paradise sand.

Despite these minor gains, the 41-year-old head coach is still tasked with leading the league's equal youngest and standalone least experience squad into battle each week.

Although this youth and dearth of overall experience offers Dew legitimate claims for patience from both punters and pundits, further strides in the sand must be made this season with wins on the board.

With this in mind, it is fair that the Gold Coast still appear a ways off contending for a place in September, but like the friend that perennially disappears when it's their turn to shout a round, when does the Suns lack of results start wearing wafer thin?

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