15 years after becoming a member of the AFL, and greater than 5000 days since their debut match, Gold Coast are ultimately September certain for the primary time.
Needing solely to defeat an injury-ravaged Essendon in an Opening Spherical conflict rescheduled from March to August because of the long-forgotten Tropical Cyclone Alfred, the Suns took the lead within the opening minutes and had been by no means troubled by a Bombers outfit who had lengthy given up on season 2025.
With an exciting loss to Port Adelaide final Friday evening having ended the Suns’ top-four hopes and ensured a win-and-in state of affairs for his or her last match of the season, Damien Hardwick would have been thrilled to see his crew put their beleaguered rivals to the sword, a seven objectives to at least one first quarter paving the way in which for a 95-point triumph, 23.15 (153) to eight.10 (58) – the most important win in Gold Coast historical past.
With 4 first-quarter majors from spearhead Ben King, together with the primary three of the match, plus 11 disposals and two objectives from captain Noah Anderson and 13 and a objective from companion in crime Matt Rowell, the Suns put the competition to mattress by quarter time, guaranteeing a contented ambiance from a sparse however vocal crowd at Individuals First Stadium.
The delight was palpable when veteran and former captain Jarrod Witts, heading into his first ever finals sequence after 203 video games, kicked a objective after the siren and celebrated wildly to start social gathering time on the glitter strip.
“To be sincere, it doesn’t really feel actual,” a delighted Anderson advised Channel 7 after the match.
“These older boys have been right here for therefore lengthy. We’ve had so many who have come by way of and never been on this place. So grateful we get to be out right here tonight to expertise this.
“The strain most likely did get to us in the final three weeks, I feel, however I thought we corrected that tonight and performed with actual freedom and backed in our strengths.”
Their dominant begin not solely secured a maiden finals berth for the success-starved Suns, however ensured the share improve they required to leap Hawthorn into seventh on the ladder was by no means of concern both – although given their reward is a brutally powerful away journey to Perth to face Fremantle in a do-or-die elimination last in comparison with an equally powerful problem on the street towards fellow growth crew and bogey aspect GWS, there isn’t a lot to realize from the one further ladder place.
The emphatic consequence additionally ensures the Western Bulldogs will miss September, having been hoping for a Bomber miracle after their loss to Fremantle on Sunday.
Their 14 home-and-away wins are the equal-most of any crew in VFL/AFL historical past to overlook finals, whereas their proportion of 137 is the third-highest ever for a non-finalist, and highest in 62 years.
For the Bombers, a season racked by damage was ultimately led to applicable if merciless vogue, with one other spate of casualties seeing Matt Guelfi (corked calf) and Todd Goldstein (concussion) have their nights ended earlier than half time, the veteran ruckman’s head conflict with teammate Xavier Duursma completely summing up a yr by which the whole lot that might go incorrect has gone incorrect.
With out a contract for 2026 and never anticipating to proceed on, emotional scenes on the three-quarter time huddle by which the 37-year outdated was embraced by teammates all however confirmed the ruckman’s 345th AFL sport will probably be his final.
Coach Brad Scott, who was seen with head in arms throughout the second half, was no less than spared additional devastation, with serious-seeming ankle and elbow accidents to Mason Redman and Archie Roberts not stopping both from taking part in out the sport.
With 28 disposals, veteran midfielder Dylan Shiel was prolific in his last match in pink and black, doing his possibilities of an AFL lifeline for subsequent season no hurt, whereas Jye Menzie (three objectives) gave himself an opportunity of a brand new contract for 2025.
By the second half, of higher significance was arguably the Brownlow Medal and All-Australian possibilities of the Suns’ weapons, with Anderson, Rowell and King specifically doing their probabilities no hurt.
Briefly discomfited by an ankle damage simply earlier than the principle break after being trod on – although he joked in an interview with Channel 7’s Mitch Cleary he’d merely have to ‘toughen up’ – Anderson (34 disposals, 12 clearances three objectives) appeared a person on a mission to safe his first September look, with the Suns captain’s pair of scintillating first-quarter objectives placing the Bombers to the sword.
Not far behind was Rowell, with the childhood associates combining for 65 disposals, 18 clearances and 5 objectives; King, in the meantime, completed with a career-high objectives after his early flurry to complete with 69 objectives for the season, a brand new Suns document and sufficient for second place within the Coleman Medal behind Jeremy Cameron.
The spearhead additionally ensured he stays the one participant within the AFL to have goalled in each match of the home-and-away season, together with his exceptional objectives to disposals charge enhanced additional – all his eight disposals had been pictures at objective, with just one blemish.
Damien Hardwick, who has vindicated the Suns’ determination to headhunt the Richmond triple-premiership coach with a finals sequence in his second season on the helm, would have been equally thrilled with the return of star duo Bailey Humphrey and Daniel Rioli from damage.
In his first match since fracturing his leg in Spherical 19, former Tiger Rioli was at his line-breaking finest from half-back, a stunning run down the center to arrange a King main within the first quarter consummate proof he’s cherry-ripe for September.
Younger tyro Humphrey was additionally encouraging on return from a knee damage earlier than being subbed out within the third quarter to handle his minutes.
