Gold Coast Suns players are daring to dream of finals footy after stunning ladder- leaders Collingwood on Friday night.
Damien Hardwick’s men rode their luck at times – and a number of Magpies stars were guilty of wayward kicking.
But the Suns (11-5) won’t care, recording a thrilling six-point victory to send a message to the rest of the AFL competition and also stay nestled in the top eight.
Footy fans also poked fun at Collingwood on social media, who came up short playing a rare away game.
‘Clearly suffering from jet lag,’ joked one supporter at fulltime on X.
‘I feel for the Magpies I really do. Such a strong team being dismantled by cruel jet lag, the AFL should do something about this awful fixturing,’ a second said sarcastically.
Gold Coast Suns players are daring to dream of finals footy after stunning ladder-leaders Collingwood on Friday night (pictured, Noah Anderson celebrates a goal)
Footy fans also poked fun at Collingwood on social media, who came up short playing a rare away game (pictured right, skipper Darcy Moore)
‘It’s clear the very unfair travel burden @CollingwoodFC have to bear is impacting them. When will it end? Time for more games at the G,’ a third posted.
Of Collingwood’s 23 matches this season, 14 of them are staged at the MCG – with another three games just 3km away at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne.
Despite the impressive result, Suns coach Hardwick is reluctant to use the ‘F’ word – finals – just yet.
‘It is big (result) because it was a big game,’ he told reporters.
‘We played an outstanding brand of footy….(now) I’m sitting here hoping the city (Gold Coast locals) jump on and look at this side thinking, ‘I want to be part of this.’
Hardwick also singled out the performance of midfielder Matt Rowell, who with 32 disposals, two goals, 13 tackles and 12 clearances was immense for the hosts.
‘People want to come and watch the best play….he had a heap of the ball, massive tackle count and kicked some big goals,’ he said.
‘I thought he was wonderful.’
After entering the AFL in 2011, the Suns’ ongoing finals drought is well documented.
If Hardwick can guide his men to play in September, his coaching will be lauded at two clubs – after previously winning three premierships at Richmond between 2017 and 2020.
