Latest news with #GoldCoastSuns
News.com.au
3 days ago
- General
- News.com.au
Dimma praises Suns' effort in Freo loss
AFL: Gold Coast Suns coach Damien Hardwick spoke to the media following their round 12 defeat to the Fremantle Dockers.
News.com.au
3 days ago
- General
- News.com.au
Longmuir proud as Dockers dig deep late
AFL: Fremantle Dockers coach Justin Longmuir spoke to the media following their round 12 victory over the Gold Coast Suns.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Freshly uncovered documents reveal which AFL team was branded the league's capital of drugs and partying
A damning marketing firm report has revealed an AFL finals hopeful has been labelled as the drug capital of the competition by players across the league. The Gold Coast Suns were established in 2009 with high hopes and they entered the AFL in 2011 as the league's 17th team. Backed by major AFL investment, the club was intended to expand the game into new markets. But what followed was years of disappointment, both on and off the field. Now, documents reveal just how bad things got during the club's darkest days. In 2015, marketing firm Bastion was brought in to help clean up the club's image. The move came just weeks after explosive scandals rocked the team's reputation. Photos of star player Harley Bennell appearing to snort white powder were published by the News Corp. The images, reportedly from 2013, created a national media storm. At the same time, former Suns and NRL player Karmichael Hunt told police he had used cocaine with teammates. He also claimed up to a dozen Suns players were involved in the drug culture. The damage to the club's reputation was swift. Bastion's internal report described the Suns with damning terms. 'Drug culture,' 'irrelevant,' 'loose,' 'a joke,' and 'laughing stock' were just some of the descriptions used. The report even referenced links to 'bikies and drugs,' painting a disturbing picture. It claimed the club was seen as 'mollycoddled' and 'not football hardened.' AFL rivals reportedly saw Gold Coast as a 'party club' with poor discipline. In response, Bastion proposed a detailed reputation strategy. The initial phase of the plan was to cost $84,000 per month. Later phases would still cost tens of thousands of dollars each. The goal was simple - to pull the Suns out of their PR nosedive. One document shows Bastion even drafted talking points for then-captain Gary Ablett Jr. They wanted to coach him through a sensitive Channel 7 interview. That same year, the AFL was under scrutiny for its close ties to Bastion. Several Bastion shareholders had strong league links, including Andrew Demetriou and Hamish McLachlan. While the club worked to repair its image, more incidents followed. In 2019, Brayden Crossley tested positive for cocaine and was suspended for a year. In 2020, Brad Scheer was caught with cocaine and handed a good behaviour bond. In 2023, Elijah Hollands was found with cocaine at The Star casino. He received a diversion order and missed two AFL games. All the while, the Suns remained stuck near the bottom of the AFL ladder. There were also wider allegations. In 2015, Queensland's Crime and Corruption Commission investigated cocaine use at the club as far back as 2012. Police believed players were using drugs outside the AFL season. The AFL was not informed of the suspected behaviour at the time.
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Lombard ECSTATIC after first AFL goal
AFL: Gold Coast Suns youngster Leo Lombard was ecstatic after kicking his first AFL goal for the Suns, against the Fremantle Dockers.
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Footy world melts over ‘best thing ever' after debutant's goal celebration
Gold Coast Suns debutant Leo Lombard stole the show on Saturday afternoon at People First Stadium. The 18-year-old was surprised by his mum through the week who presented him with his jumper ahead of his first game. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. The tear-jerking scenes then turned into unbridled jubilation against the Fremantle Dockers when the ninth pick in the 2024 draft hit the scoreboard. A perfect tap from Jarrod Witts found Lombard at the front of the pack deep inside the Suns forward 50 with the livewire running in before snapping truly. Lombard then exploded as he celebrated as his teammates came rushing in from all over the paddock. As is custom now in the AFL after kicking a goal, Lombard made his way to the bench but the celebrations didn't stop. On his way off the ground he flexed his arm right before pointing to his mum up in the crowd. When he reached the bench he continued celebrating with his teammates who were loving the moment just as much as the youngster. The scenes quickly whipped around the football world with fans far and wide loving every second of the moment. 'You only get one chance to introduce yourself in AFL – and what a way to do it!' Kelli Underwood said 'A lifelong dream realised. He's been wearing the Suns jumper since he was 12. 'There's one for Mum … she works three jobs to keep his dream alive. He's enjoying his moment – and so too is everyone in the house. 'I've got goosebumps on goosebumps.' Fox Footy commentator Dwayne Russell added: 'What a beautiful moment that is!' AFL Media's Nat Edwards wrote on X: 'Leo Lombard's goal celebration. Best thing I've seen all year. Pure joy. This is why I love this game!' Another fan added: 'Leo Lombard goal celebration as good as it gets.' A third wrote: 'Won't be a more wholesome thing in footy all year than the Leo Lombard celebration.' Lombard's showstopping moment came only minutes after Suns star Matt Rowell was placed on report for striking Neil Erasmus. Before a boundary throw in the two men were indulging in a bit of push and shove when a left hand from Rowell slid off Erasmus' shoulder and collected him on the chin. The Suns clawed their way back into the contest in the second quarter after the Dockers burst out of the blocks in the first term. The Dockers kicked five goals to two to hold a 20-point lead at the first break before the Suns fought back to make it only a six-point difference at halftime.
