Kane Cornes has served angered Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick a reality check, after the Suns' four-point loss to North Melbourne on Saturday.
The Suns coach was extremely unhappy post match, slamming his troops and dropping an expletive in the process.
It's Gold Coast's eighth loss at Marvel Stadium since 2021.
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The closest they've got to a victory is a draw in that time. After the match, Hardwick, who has been at the helm since the end of last year, let loose.
"We sit there and give ourselves enough opportunities but we just don't play our moments and it's my job as a coach to sit there and demand better," Hardwick said.
"I'm angry to be fair and as a footy club we've got to grow the f–k up to be perfectly honest, excuse the language.
"We've been in this situation too many times so it's up to me and the match committee to get our boys going."
Now, Cornes has reminded Hardwick just how difficult it is to reach success as an interstate side.
"I reckon Stewy Dew (former Suns coach) would be laughing," Cornes said on Nine's Sunday Footy Show.
Hardwick has had his fair share of success, coaching Richmond to three premierships in five years, without having to do much travel, minus the odd trip from their home ground at the MCG down the road to Marvel Stadium.
The Suns coach is now learning to manage a whole new football world, one that is headlined by travel, almost every two weeks.
"Quickly the language has turned from the bold pre-season declarations of, '80 per cent of our premiership list', of 'OK, we've made the coaching change, our expectation is finals'," Cornes said.
"It's much easier to do it, when you average 15 games at the MCG as Richmond coach."
Cornes is concerned that Hardwick, despite his decorated coaching career, has no idea how to navigate coaching an interstate side, especially the Suns, who have never made finals since their inception in 2011.
"They're 0-8 away from home. They can't even beat North Melbourne away from home," he said.
"It's just a reminder for everyone that has it pretty good in Victoria.
For Richmond and Essendon and Collingwood, when you're playing 15 (games) a year at the MCG, it's pretty easy, particularly (with) home finals as well.
"It's a little bit tougher when you've got to get your group on the plane."
Meantime, Damien Barrett is sure that Hardwick's use of an expletive will be investigated by the league, with a punishment likely.
"I get what he was trying to it. He's trying to straighten this club up and he's trying to straighten them up quickly," Barrett said.
"He regularly comes across as a sook, in moments that go against him. That's not the first time he's reacted that way.
"Clubs … and people at the AFL will ask for discipline under all circumstances.
"They can't let that happen."
The Suns sit in 12th on the ladder with an 8-8 record.
They'll face off against Port Adelaide at home in round 18.
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