Frustrated Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick says his charges have to be better and learn how to seize their opportunities after losing their sixth away match in as many attempts.
The Suns slipped to a 7.9 (51) to 7.6 (48) loss to St Kilda on Saturday night at Marvel Stadium - but never really got going until the game's late stages.
First-year Suns coach Hardwick lamented an "unwarranted" free kick for holding against defender Mac Andrew, which gifted Max King the winning goal.
But he was more frustrated with his team, who could have consolidated a top-eight berth with a victory, but will instead drop out of the finals places by the round's end.
"We have to be better. We'll be better next time but it's frustrating. We let a game slip," Hardwick said.
"I think we should've, could've but didn't win. We had our chances late but we've got to be better than this and more mature than this.
"We had a poor start once again, which is incredibly frustrating and with a game that's relatively low-scoring, it's always a challenge.
"We were a chance to take a step forward and we didn't deliver and a couple of sides will be on the same boat.
"So it's part of our journey ... but it's a real one that I walk away thinking it was an opportunity that we we let slip and it's frustrating.
"Our fans will be frustrated, I know I'm certainly frustrated and our players will be incredibly frustrated as well."
The Suns have the bye before travelling to face Fremantle on June 23.
While Hardwick is delighted with the Suns' perfect home record, he noted their run of 13 consecutive away losses - which stretches back beyond the start of his tenure - was an issue.
"We've just got to make a strong understanding that we've got to get better in this facet of the game and part of that is on me as a coach and our coaches to make sure we get the best out of our players to make sure they can prepare to play," he said.
"I keep saying winning games away is tough with our maturity level - and I'm loath to say this because we choose to be young - but we are young, if that makes sense.
"We've got to get better in that situation. And it's not an excuse, but the fact of the matter is we've got to understand that an away game, the crowd, all that sort of thing is a cauldron-like atmosphere that we have to sit there and embrace.
"You can't shy away from those type of things. And as we get better and we play bigger games, we'll get better at that as well."
