GOLD Coast coach Rodney Eade didn't get his hopes up as he watched star forward Tom Lynch unload a potentially match-winning set shot after the siren against Melbourne on Sunday. 

The understrength Suns had pushed the Demons all the way in a stirring performance at the MCG, and with his side trailing by just two points, stand-in skipper Lynch had an extremely tough set shot only metres in from where the 50m arc meets the boundary. 

Lynch's massive bomb slid just across the face and fell narrowly short, and Eade was still impressed despite his side going down. 

"It was a very difficult kick. It was a pretty good shot actually, he did pretty well," Eade said post-match.

"It was a tough angle and a long distance out. I didn't expect him to kick it, but he gave it a good shake."

Eade said the "real disappointment" felt by Gold Coast's players after the loss was an encouraging sign of the growing belief at the Suns.

Despite a long injury list, including six prime movers in midfield, the Suns have won three of their last five games and continue to find talented youngsters to stand up. 

Touk Miller (21 touches) impressed across the four quarters against the Dees, while Alex Sexton (18), wingman Matt Shaw (18, one goal) and second-gamer Joshua Schoenfeld (12) all showed grit. 

"At some stage, you would think in the next four weeks, our midfield is going to tire because we haven't got a lot of options in there, so that's going to be a test for us," Eade said. 

"Next week against GWS is going to be tough, but I think the leadership, their character, their mental resilience they're showing and toughness to hang in there I think has been really pleasing." 

Eade said his players were learning they no longer had to rely on star players to mix it in the AFL. 

"They're finding that they don't have to rely on any one, two, three or four players in particular, that they can compete," he said. 

"They're getting some real belief out of that. The leadership's growing. I think Steven (May) and Tom (Lynch) have been terrific, but the others underneath them, even the ones under the leadership group are really developing that." 

While Sunday's loss was the Suns' ninth from 11 games at the home of football, and followed a defeat to Richmond in round 12, it was a promising effort at a venue where Gold Coast hopes to play finals at in coming seasons. 

"Both games (this season) we could've or should've won, so I think that experience is invaluable for them," Eade said.