Latest news with #DamienHardwick
The Australian
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Australian
Gold Coast Suns smash Lions in historic 66-point QClash win
Gold Coast have thrown a spanner in the top-eight mix with a crushing defeat of their crosstown rivals Brisbane. Get the reaction and details here. Suns coach Damien Hardwick says Gold Coast's record-breaking 66-point QClash victory over Brisbane will instill a new-found confidence in a side that is starting to understand it can become an AFL force. The Suns reached 12 wins for the first time in a season courtesy of its 20.10 (130) to 9.10 (64) win over the Lions in front of 20,833 fans in wet conditions at People First Stadium on Saturday. The winning margin exceeded the previous 64-point record set in 2015. Gold Coast have come out of a three-game stretch against teams in the top four – Collingwood, Adelaide and Brisbane - with a 2-1 record. It lifted the side to seventh on the ladder ahead of a run home that includes a clash against just one team currently inside the top eight. 'It's an interesting one. I speak about narratives a little bit. To change it you've got to win some games, especially against really good footy clubs and the last three weeks we've played three of the best,' Hardwick said. 'Two-one against those there. What it probably does is instil a bit of confidence in what may be. We're proud of the response, it was disappointing last week (against Adelaide). The guys got to work and did the job.' Lions coach Chris Fagan is confident his premiership side will respond from the club's worst QClash loss to take it up to AFL flag contenders Collingwood next week. 'It is hard to stay up every week, there's no doubt about that,' Fagan said. 'That's part and parcel of the challenge. How you reflect on it really is how you react next week and how you play next week. We've got a pretty hard game, Collingwood at the MCG. 'I'm confident our group will respond, they normally do. Those who have followed the Lions wouldn't have seen a performance like that too often in the past six years.' Efficiency going inside the forward 50m is paramount against the competition's best and Gold Coast were clinical. The Suns booted 10.3 in the first half to take a 27-point lead into the main break. Gold Coast had an even spread of contributors across the ground and had 10 different goal kickers, Matt Rowell earning the Marcus Ashcroft Medal for best on ground with 37 disposals and 15 clearances. The club's win against Collingwood was considered the biggest in its history and a second straight win at home, this time against last year's grand final winners, has sent a statement to the rest of the league that the Gold Coast are a real threat. Adding to Brisbane's woes was a hamstring injury suffered by Conor McKenna who was subbed out at halftime. — Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) July 26, 2025 BATTLE OF THE MIDFIELD It was a battle of an established premiership midfield against a young and improving centre brigade that has already taken multiple scalps in 2025. The Suns midfield took a step forward in the QClash, gaining an ascendency at centre bounces and stoppages that limited Brisbane's opportunities to create opportunities while laying the platform for the club's forwards to build scoreboard pressure. Jarrod Witts won the battle in the ruck while Gold Coast won the clearances 52-40. DAVIES DELIVERS A personal best performance from Alex Davies in his first AFL game of the season has reignited a career at the crossroads. Davies had 30 disposals, seven clearances and 10 tackles, dominating against the AFL's premier midfield contingent. His physical presence at stoppages complimented teammate and fellow midfield bull Matt Rowell perfectly and laid the platform for Anderson to take the game away from Brisbane. The 23-year-old was once considered a top 10 pick before being taken by the Suns as part of its academy concessions in 2020. He has only played 33 games, struggling to cement a spot in Gold Coast's midfield, and reports this week suggested he was open to a move at the end of this year despite being contracted at the Suns until the end of 2026. His performance against Brisbane could spark his career at the Suns or at least improve his asking price for rival clubs. SCOREBOARD SUNS: 5.1 10.3 15.6 20.10 (130) LIONS 2.3 4.6 5.8 9.10 (64) BEST: Suns: Rowell, Anderson, Witts, Long, Fiorini, Collins, Humphrey Lions: Neale, McCluggage, Dunkley, Bailey GOALS: Suns: Long 4, Humphrey 3, Farrar 3, Ainsworth 3, King 2, Anderson , Holman, Fiorini, Budarick, Read. Lions: Rayner 3, Neale, Ah Chee, McCluggage, Hipwood, Bailey. INJURIES: Suns: N/A Lions: Conor McKenna (hamstring) CROWD: 20,833 at People First Stadium. BOSWELL'S BEST: 3: Rowell 2: Anderson 1: Long Tom Boswell Queensland Local Sport Editor/Gold Coast Bulletin Sport Editor Tom Boswell is News Corp's Queensland Local Sport Editor/Gold Coast Bulletin Sport Editor, as well as writing for CODE Sports. With over a decade of experience in sports journalism Boswell has worked from the grassroots right up to the elite level. He spent over six years covering the AFL extensively and is now managing the company's regional and local sports journalists across Qld. AFL Port Adelaide got a lot wrong in the 98-point defeat their crosstown rivals — but one moment stood out as lazy and disrespectful. See all the R20 likes and dislikes in The Lowdown. AFL Rowan Marshall has revealed more about St Kilda's celebrations after their history-making win over the Demons, plus what it was like setting up the matchwinning play.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Suns ponder 'what may be' after historic QClash win
Gold Coast have shrugged off Brisbane's QClash chokehold and invited thoughts of "what may be" with a historic 66-point AFL win. The Suns had lost 12 of the past 13 Queensland derbies to the defending premiers. But on Saturday, with a maiden finals berth on the radar, the hosts called the shots in a 20.10 (130) to 9.10 (64) romp at a wet People First Stadium. Victory, in front of 20,833 fans, was the Suns' biggest in a QClash, while their 12th win this season is a club-high. The Suns are sharing the love now 🥰#AFLSunsLions — AFL (@AFL) July 26, 2025 It capped a 2-1 run against the competition's top three sides in the past three weeks, wins against Collingwood and the Lions sandwiching last week's Adelaide thrashing. Sitting seventh and with only one of their last five regular-season games against top-eight opponents, the ball is in the Suns' court. "I speak about narratives a little bit. To change it you've got to win some games," Suns coach Damien Hardwick said. "Especially against really good footy clubs, and the last three weeks we've played three of the best. "What it probably does is instil a bit of confidence in what may be." Captain Noah Anderson (33 touches, one goal) did the early damage, while ruckman Jarrod Witts dominated, and Hardwick's bold selection calls were vindicated. Matt Rowell (37 touches, 14 clearances, 12 tackles) won the Marcus Ashcroft Medal, and the recalled Alex Davies (30 touches, 10 tackles) flipped the script on the usually dominant Lions midfield. Jy Farrar (three goals) enjoyed his first AFL game since late 2023, Ben Long rediscovered his early-season form with four majors, and Bailey Humphrey (three goals, eight tackles) also shone. Brisbane's Ashcroft brothers Will and Levi were well held, while Lachie Neale, Josh Dunkley and Hugh McCluggage suffered a rare engine-room loss. The Lions (13-5-1) missed a chance to at least briefly occupy top spot and now face a trip to the MCG to play the Magpies as part of a tough run to September. "Outside the first 10 minutes … we had a game to forget," Brisbane coach Chris Fagan said of the side that had won their past four games. "We haven't played as poorly as that in a long, long time. "Credit for that goes to the Gold Coast Suns. I'm not sitting here saying it was just us. "They were on and we were off and they capitalised on that." Brisbane started well with goals to Callum Ah Chee and Neale, before the Suns responded. Witts set the tone at the bounce, while Davies threw his 193cm frame around and fit-again Sam Collins imposed himself in defence. The contest was drifting in the second quarter until skipper Anderson again took it by the scruff with a goal and assist inside a minute. His first drifted over the pack and was toed on the line by Farrar, before he produced a repeat of his Collingwood match-winner a fortnight earlier, streaking from the centre square and nailing a major from 50 metres after a neat one-two. The Suns' fine kicking continued when Long threaded the needle, creating a 33-point half-time buffer as heavy rain started to fall. It didn't slow Farrar, who benefited from another clever Witts tap to squeeze through his third goal. Rowell was running freely in a dominant third term, with Ben Ainsworth and Long's goals swelling the lead beyond 50 points to effectively kill the contest. Neale still amassed 36 touches, while Cam Rayner kicked three late goals to go with 19 disposals for Brisbane. Lions utility Conor McKenna (hamstring) will have scans after he was substituted at halftime.
The Australian
24-07-2025
- Sport
- The Australian
AFL: Suns seeking QClash redemption after heavy loss to Crows
Sick of hearing 'how crap' they are, the Gold Coast Suns have the perfect chance to 'change the narrative' by beating premiers Brisbane in Saturday's QClash. While the Suns have won 11 of their 17 matches to remain on track to play finals football for the first time in the club's history, an embarrassing 61-point loss to Adelaide last Sunday has raised doubts about their ability to finish the season in the top eight. Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick believes the ideal way to respond is with a win over the second-placed Lions this weekend at People First Stadium. Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick wants the Suns to lift against Brisbane. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images 'We're still in the race for something that we have never achieved, so we're really looking forward to that challenge,' Hardwick said on Thursday. 'As a coaching group and as a playing group, we've got a big step this week. We've got to take care of this step, then we'll sit there and take the next one this week. 'There's no greater test than the mob we're playing this week. The way they play the game is a great style of footy – combative, high pressure, high contest. 'What's really improved over the last six weeks is their handball game. Those Ashcroft boys (Will and Levi), (Jaspa) Fletcher and all those sorts of players have certainly helped with that, Lachie Neale's always been a star at it. The challenge is firmly set for our midfielders to respond. 'We get to test how far we've come in six days. The great thing about the very best sides is you know exactly how they play. 'Stopping them is the next part of the equation and we're looking forward to that challenge.' Despite having only taken charge of the Suns last year, Hardwick is well aware of how the Gold Coast has been portrayed since joining the AFL competition in 2011. Suns star Matt Rowell (front) is tackled by Brisbane co-captain Lachie Neale during the Lions' QClash win in May. Picture:'Everyone, for a long period of time, has told us how crap we are, (that) we're no good, (that we) don't deserve to be here,' the former Richmond three-time premiership-winning coach said. 'You know what? We're about changing that narrative. It's not the same old Suns, it's the brand new Suns.' Hardwick said the top-eight was now 'probably 90 per cent a race in nine', with the ninth-placed Western Bulldogs trailing the Suns – who have played one game less – by four points. 'We've got a game in hand which is the challenging thing with the ladder and the swings and roundabouts that we have … (but) we've just got to keep ticking off as many wins as we can to make sure that we aim for that first finals campaign,' he said. Hardwick also addressed speculation that Carlton forward Charlie Curnow wanted to join the Suns next season, 'We can understand that people hopefully want to come here and want to join in on this journey. We're looking to bring the very best players to our footy club,' he said. Marco Monteverde Sports reporter Marco Monteverde is a Brisbane-based sports reporter for NCA Newswire. He worked in a similar role for The Courier-Mail from 2007 to 2020. During a journalism career of more than 25 years, he has also worked for The Queensland Times, The Sunshine Coast Daily, The Fraser Coast Chronicle and The North West Star. He has covered three FIFA World Cups and the 2000 Sydney Olympics, as well as a host of other major sporting events in Australia and around the world. @marcothejourno Marco Monteverde
Yahoo
24-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Suns swing changes for huge Lions test
Gold Coast have regained key defender Sam Collins among five changes for the massive Q-Clash against the Brisbane Lions as Damien Hardwick seeks a much-needed response from his side. The Suns, thrashed by Adelaide last week, will be without star pair Touk Miller and Daniel Rioli but will welcome back vice-captain Collins and Lachie Weller from injuries. Alex Davies, Jy Farrar and Nick Holman also return, with Rioli and Sam Clohesy out injured, and David Swallow, Jed Walter and Ben Jepson dropped. On a four-match winning streak, second-placed Brisbane are within two competition points of ladder leaders Collingwood and have regained in-form forward Zac Bailey after a one-match suspension. Gold Coast have lost their last three meetings with the Lions and will likely drop out of the top eight if they fall to their Queensland rivals again at People First Stadium. "What we have to do is win games, and that's our challenge," Suns coach Hardwick said. "We're still in the race for something we've never achieved. "As a coaching group and a playing group we've got a big step this week. "We've got to take care of this step and then we'll take the next one next week." Port Adelaide have regained skipper Connor Rozee for coach Ken Hinkley's final Showdown against red-hot Adelaide, who are unchanged as they charge towards the finals. Fellow hopefuls Fremantle called up Isaiah Dudley and Neil Erasmus for Saturday's derby against West Coast, but captain Alex Pearce (shin) is still unavailable. Matt Johnson and Corey Wagner are out injured, while the Eagles have recalled talented youngster Elijah Hewett after he was rested last week. Geelong named Tom Stewart in an unchanged side for their clash with North Melbourne on Saturday night, despite the star utility being subbed out last week with knee soreness. The Kangaroos are still without Nick Larkey (knee) and George Wardlaw, who returned from concussion in the VFL last week. Zane Duursma was among three inclusions for North, with Callum Coleman-Jones (calf) out after his comeback lasted just 15 minutes. There is doubt over key Richmond midfielder Tim Taranto's availability for Sunday's clash with Collingwood because of calf soreness. Taranto was named in an extended squad alongside Noah Balta, who is back for the first time in a fortnight after completing his court-imposed curfew. Tim Membrey, Tom Mitchell and Dan Houston were all named in an extended squad for the Magpies, but Jordan De Goey hasn't yet been cleared to return. Melbourne named Tom Sparrow to return in Sunday's clash with St Kilda after he sat out one match through concussion protocols after high contact from North Melbourne's Tristan Xerri.
News.com.au
24-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Gold Coast Suns intent on showing they are no longer ‘crap' in Saturday's battle with Brisbane
Sick of hearing 'how crap' they are, the Gold Coast Suns have the perfect chance to 'change the narrative' by beating premiers Brisbane in Saturday's QClash. While the Suns have won 11 of their 17 matches to remain on track to play finals football for the first time in the club's history, an embarrassing 61-point loss to Adelaide last Sunday has raised doubts about their ability to finish the season in the top eight. Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick believes the ideal way to respond is with a win over the second-placed Lions this weekend at People First Stadium. 'We're still in the race for something that we have never achieved, so we're really looking forward to that challenge,' Hardwick said on Thursday. 'As a coaching group and as a playing group, we've got a big step this week. We've got to take care of this step, then we'll sit there and take the next one this week. 'There's no greater test than the mob we're playing this week. The way they play the game is a great style of footy – combative, high pressure, high contest. 'What's really improved over the last six weeks is their handball game. Those Ashcroft boys (Will and Levi), (Jaspa) Fletcher and all those sorts of players have certainly helped with that, Lachie Neale's always been a star at it. The challenge is firmly set for our midfielders to respond. 'We get to test how far we've come in six days. The great thing about the very best sides is you know exactly how they play. 'Stopping them is the next part of the equation and we're looking forward to that challenge.' Despite having only taken charge of the Suns last year, Hardwick is well aware of how the Gold Coast has been portrayed since joining the AFL competition in 2011. 'Everyone, for a long period of time, has told us how crap we are, (that) we're no good, (that we) don't deserve to be here,' the former Richmond three-time premiership-winning coach said. 'You know what? We're about changing that narrative. It's not the same old Suns, it's the brand new Suns.' Hardwick said the top-eight was now 'probably 90 per cent a race in nine', with the ninth-placed Western Bulldogs trailing the Suns – who have played one game less – by four points. 'We've got a game in hand which is the challenging thing with the ladder and the swings and roundabouts that we have … (but) we've just got to keep ticking off as many wins as we can to make sure that we aim for that first finals campaign,' he said. Hardwick also addressed speculation that Carlton forward Charlie Curnow wanted to join the Suns next season, 'We can understand that people hopefully want to come here and want to join in on this journey. We're looking to bring the very best players to our footy club,' he said.
