Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew has at least three reasons to smile despite copping an 11th straight AFL loss.

The Suns were well placed to end their wretched run on Saturday night before coughing up a narrow halftime lead to lose by 44 points to Essendon.

Dew rued his young side’s inability to cash in when they had all the running in the first half.

But he was also keen to get home and watch the tape of the Suns’ two-point NEAFL defeat of a stacked Greater Western Sydney side that featured the successful returns of Pearce Hanley (shoulder), Michael Barlow (jaw) and Brayden Fiorini (leg).

Barlow had 44 disposals, nine marks and six tackles while Fiorini made 11 tackles to go with 36 touches and two goals and Hanley had 31 touches and seven rebound 50s.

Dew ruled out bringing all three back at once but said they, along with other NEAFL performers, were now in the conversation ahead of next week’s trip to Sydney.

“Potentially, we’ll have to have a look but they all played plus-95 minutes,” Dew said.

“I’d love to have a look at the tape and see how they moved.”

Dew had been reluctant to reward Barlow’s NEAFL dominance before his jaw injury while Hanley hasn’t featured since his preseason injury.

But the coach could see the Irishman in particular play a role alongside the in-form Lachie Weller in the near future.

“We’d love to have him back in the side for his leadership, but also his ball use and creativity,” Dew said.

“Lachie Weller has gone back there in last three or four weeks and been outstanding … if we can get Pearce and Lachie back there I think that’ll be a great tandem.”

Captain Steven May struggled after falling hard on his hip for the second consecutive week but Dew played down the likelihood of him missing any game time.