The Mariners equalled the club's greatest ever winning margin, with the 4-0 win in Melbourne on Saturday night.
  
"Forget finals, if you just think about A-League games, we've had a few good ones, but 4-0, away from home, against the champions, it was a solid performance," said boss McKinna.
 
"We've not been conceding goals, we had to make three changes, and the three strikers scored for us tonight.
 
"We've said all along there are goals in them, and tonight we got them.
 
"From the midfield, to the defence, to the strikers, everybody did their job tonight, so that was very pleasing, with some good football played in there as well."
 
 "The boys were winding him up over the last few days and he probably wouldn't have slept much last night, but I thought he had a great starting debut, and he could have been a hero and got two goals to start the second half," said McKinna of young Matthew Lewis.
  
The Mariners boss hoped that the performance would show the football world that there was more to his team than hard work.

 "We're always thought of as a club that works hard with a work ethic, but I think those who saw the game saw there were some spells through there that there was some great football," said McKinna.
 
"We played good football, we're very competitive, and we were up for the game.
 
"I thought there might have been (another) goal coming at the end as well because Melbourne were coming forward and we kept winning the ball and going forward.
 
"With a wee bit of luck we might have got another one."
 
And the Mariners mentor has a warning for anyone doubting his side's title credentials.
 
"I believe, and the coaching staff believe that we have a really good squad. I just think sometimes the players don't believe how good they are.
 
"I just hope after a performance like that we do believe in ourselves, and believe in each other, they can get better, added McKinna.