Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick will send Mac Andrew to Adelaide goalkicker Riley Thilthorpe after they clashed in round 4

News.com.au

18-07-2025

Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick is excited for the rematch between Suns star defender Mac Andrew and giant Adelaide goalkicker Riley Thilthorpe despite the likelihood things could get fiery again in one of the matches of the round.
The pair of young stars got up close and personal in a feisty aftermath of the Suns' one-point win in round 4 after Thilthorpe gave away a late free kick and Andrew went straight at him as the final siren sounded, getting in his face.
Andrew copped some criticism for his behaviour, but Hardwick declared on Friday the rematch was on, and it could be a contest the two go at for the next decade, with both teams emerging as the next wave of regular finals contenders.
'It's great for the game,' Hardwick said on Friday of the impending match-up.
'They are two combative, competitive players. And that's the thing we love about sport, you know, the competitive nature of individuals and it's what they bring.
'They'll play on each other predominantly this week, but they'll be playing on each other for the next 10 to 12 years I'd imagine, which is really exciting not only for Adelaide and, you know, the Gold Coast Suns, (but) for the AFL in general.
'They're going to be outstanding players, if not outstanding players already. So they're well acquainted and now they'll continue that this week.'
The Suns are backing up from last week's stirring win over ladder-leaders Collingwood that Hardwick said cemented 'belief' that his team was a legitimate contender with a first finals campaign on the horizon.
But Hardwick, who won three premierships with Richmond, said it didn't mean his players could take their foot off the gas, and that was the message being driven home.
'One of the things we've been consistently speaking about is breaking that narrative of we're not the old Gold Coast Suns, we're the brand new Suns and what that looks like,' he said.
'So we control that narrative. It's our story to write, and that's the most important thing about our players. If they continually focus on the next shift, we're going to be OK.
'If we allow ourselves to drift too much in the future or get dragged down by the past, that's when we're going to find ourselves in trouble.
'But just keep worrying about where your feet are right now and let's make sure we keep playing our style of game and just focus on that next shift mentality.'
The Suns will take on the Crows without inured star Touk Miller, who Hardwick labelled 'irreplaceable', even more so heading to the Adelaide Oval where the Suns have never won.
'No greater challenge against what I think is probably the best form team in the competition at the moment,' he said.
'It's going to be a challenge for us. We're playing in a hostile environment. We've never won at this ground. We're playing against the form side, so we're looking forward to it.
'And, you know, once again, we'll bring our best and hopefully prevail at the end.'